352 MANUAL OF MODERN FARKlEin'. 



be attached the reins, buckled to a ring on either side of 

 the pad. The reins ought to be flat and allowed to be 

 slack, and gradually tightened. The trainer should occa- 

 sionally stand in front of the animal, and take hold of each 

 side-j-ein near to the mouth, gently press upon it, and thus 

 begin to teach him to back and stop by the pressure of the 

 rein, always rewarding obedience, but gently punishing him 

 by a slight jerk when obstinate. 



The colt should now be taken to the street, or road, and 

 led about, to accustom him to meet carts and other objects 

 without starting and shying ; but if he does start or shy, 

 lie should not be allowed to pass on, but ought to be quietly 

 led up to the object of his fear, and shown tiiat it will not 

 harm him. But on no account should he be beaten on such 

 occasions. And should he be still shy, let him be taken 

 past the object of his fear, first at a greater distance, and 

 then nearer, until he may be quietly led close to it. It is 

 only by patience on the part of the breaker that these 

 difficulties are got the better of ; whereas if the animal is 

 forcibly and suddenly taken up to the object before the 

 fear has subsided, a habit may be established, which will 

 never afterwards be eradicated. Nothing can be more ab- 

 surd than to beat even an adult and thorough-trained horse 

 for shying * This is certain to establish rather than remove 

 the fault. The same system should be adopted with an 

 aged horse, as recommended for the colt, and this I have 

 found efiectual in every case. The best horse is liable 

 occasionally to shy at a white post, or other object which he 

 may suddenly come upon, especially in the evening or in the 

 dark ; but on no account should the rider proceed on his 

 journey without quietly and deliberately leading up his 

 horse to the object, and allowing him to see what it is. 

 When the colt has been inured to walking on a road or 



