Following the Reindeer
One way a good herder can control his herd is with the artful use of bells. Reindeer tend to form groups within a herd, clustering around deer that are calm and act as leaders. This natural, internal dynamic gives the herd a cohesiveness it otherwise would not have. Using their intimate knowledge of their herd, herders can enhance this natural process by putting bells on some of these select deer, amplifying their effect on the rest of the herd. Besides choosing which deer should have bells, the herder also has to decide where to place them—in the front of the herd, the middle, the back, or the sides. Because only a few deer in the herd have bells, where they are placed forms the internal structure of the herd, each bell becoming a magnet for part of the herd. It is the combination of the right deer, the right bells, and the right placement that enhances the cohesiveness of the herd.
In addition to the bells placed within a herd, there is a special reindeer—the bell reindeer—that is chosen to lead the herd. The bell reindeer is trained to be led by a rope in front of the herd, so when the bell reindeer moves forward, the rest of the herd follows, the sound of his bell creating the cadence for the herd. The steady ringing of his bell, along with the rhythmic ringing of the other bells becomes the song of the reindeer as they move across the land.