Rural School Leaflet. 1087 



and at the same time be made to believe that there is no limit to certain 

 others. For example, the first time the horse is tied by the head, see 

 to it that he is fastened securely and that the halter will hold in case he 

 pulls. If the horse pulls and fails to free himself in the first few attempts 

 there is little likelihood of his trying it later, while if he succeeds in freeing 

 himself at first he will never cease trying to repeat what he once accom- 

 plished. On the other hand, it is very important not to overload the 

 horse that is being trained, with a view of creating in him the notion 

 that he can pull anything. Thus to promote the horse's usefulness 

 we exaggerate his appreciation of those powers that are useful to man 

 and deceive him as to certain others which are not useful and perhaps 

 positi .'ely dangerous. 



A horse should be trained to stand still while being harnessed and 

 hitched, and until the word to start is given. If this training is long 

 delayed it will be very hard to give. 



A horse should never be trusted more than is necessary. Many dis- 

 tressing accidents occur from this cause. A good horseman never runs 

 risks when they can be avoided. 



In harnessing, saddling, or handling a horse the work should always 

 be done from the left side. The harness should be gently but firmly 

 placed upon the animal. The harness and other equipment should be of 

 good quality and in good repair . 



In hitching a horse into a pair of shafts the shafts should always be 

 raised and the animal backed into them or the vehicle drawn forward, 

 as the horse is likely to step on a shaft and break it if backed in while 

 the shafts are on the ground. 



In hitching, the horse should be fastened into the bits and the lines 

 placed where they can be easily reached before hitching to the vehicle. 

 In unhitching, the lines should be the last disengaged and care should 

 be taken that the animal is free from the vehicle before he is led 

 away. 



A horse should be tied by a strong rope or strap about the neck, the 

 strap passed through the ring of the bit and then to the post. A horse 

 should always be tied short, otherwise he may get his foot over the tie- 

 strap, be unable to disengage it, break the tie-strap or check rein, 

 become frightened, and an accident result. 



In working a horse few signals should be used. These should be 

 used to mean exactly the same thing at all times. Signals or commands 

 should be given gently but firmly and should always be carried out. 



Whoa should always mean to stop and nothing else; it should not 

 mean to go slowly or steadily or even to get ready to stop. 



