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Kick over the traces

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on December 28, 2006

In Reply to: Kick over the traces posted by bill howard on December 28, 2006

: Can you add the phrase "Kick over the traces" with its meaning please

A horse is harnessed to a carriage, wagon or cart with traces, which are the leather straps that run horizontally along the horse's sides. If through overexcitement or excess of energy the horse starts to buck and kick out, if it isn't quickly brought under control it may manage to kick right over the traces, i.e. get its leg over these straps. Your horse and cart are now in a horrid mess - a bit like having your dog wrap its lead round your legs and a lamp-post, but much more dangerous and harder to disentangle. (VSD)

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