TRAINING THE YOUNG HORSE 65 



handled if the breaker goes about the work in a proper manner ; 

 but a flinching, hesitating mode of doing it will, in a great 

 many cases, make the horse nervous and suspicious, and in the 

 end vicious. The horse is not to be tied up short to the rack 

 or manger, but should have perfect freedom of his head. 

 There is very little fear of a young horse trying to bite you ; 

 that is a vice which is learned afterwards, and is generally the 

 result of bad treatment. If he is disposed to kick, do not keep 

 worrying him by doing the thing which causes him to give signs 

 of this vice, but go to his forehand and remain thereabouts till he 

 gets more accustomed to you. When first proceeding to handle 

 a young horse, begin of course with the head and neck ; make 

 much of him, not patting him so as to make a clapping sort of 

 noise, which will be likely to startle him, but by smoothing his 

 coat the right way, and talking to him, gradually passing your 

 hand along the near side of his neck and down his shoulders. 

 If he does not take much notice, pass the hand quietly but 

 firmly down his near fore leg, always bearing in mind that a too 

 light feeling is liable to tickle the horse, especially if he is of an 

 irritable disposition. He is not to be bored with too much 

 of this sort of thing, especially if he is not disposed to take 

 as kindly to it as could be wished : about ten minutes or a 

 quarter of an hour is long enough ; then feed him and leave 

 him alone for two or three hours, or till nearly feeding time 

 again, and gradually handle his body and limbs all over in the 

 same way, going on from one part to another till he does not 

 take much notice of it. 



In taking up his fore feet, do not hit the horse hard be- 

 tween the knee and fetlock to make him lift his foot, as I have 

 often seen done, for this is very likely to put him down on his 

 knees ; but lay hold firmly of the fetlock, and without using too 

 much force try and get him to give it to you. If he allows you 

 to bend his knee, it is quite enough for the first time ; put it 

 down quietly, make much of him and leave him alone for a 

 while. If you attempt to retain hold of it you will in most cases 

 only cause him to fight you, and it will take you longer next 



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