TRAINING THE YOUNG HORSE 75 



let the rein out a little than shorten it, and he will soon under- 

 stand what you require of him, and will do it ; then while he is 

 walking round gradually coil up the rein again and call him up 

 to you. He may not understand you the first time, and it may 

 be necessary to get the assistant to go on the other side of him 

 to stop him, and you may then have to go to him ; but after a 

 very few lessons he will be found only too ready to come to you 

 when called up. When you have taken him up to the centre 

 make much of him, and after allowing him to stand a minute 

 or two try to lead him a few times round the circle to the right. 

 As the horse has been accustomed to be always led on the near 

 side up to now, it is only reasonable to expect that he will not 

 be so ready to go that way as the other, but it will generally be 

 found that with a little coaxing he will soon understand what 

 you want of him, and lead as well to the right as to the left. If 

 he does not go all right the first day, do not be impatient ; he 

 will probably be more tractable the next ; but until he leads 

 round that way satisfactorily do not urge him into a trot or let the 

 rein out too much so as to get too far away from him, or he will 

 be constantly trying to turn right about so as to get back on to 

 the left rein. The first few lessons should not last longer alto- 

 gether than about twenty minutes. Then make much of him, 

 take off the tackle, let him be led about in the air for a short 

 time, and send him to his stable. The longeing rein should be 

 made of web. It is lighter than a rope, and coils up more 

 easily. It should be about fifteen yards long. 



The next day you will most likely find that the horse will 

 take much more kindly to his lesson and will understand better 

 what he is desired to do. He must not be hurried, and if he 

 is inclined to go too fast the side reins may be shortened a 

 little, but it will as a rule be found that soothing him by talking 

 to him and keeping the whip quiet will be the best means of 

 restraining him to a steady pace ; in fact, after a very few 

 lessons he will learn to walk and trot at the word. Above all 

 things, avoid a sudden jerk of the cavesson rein, which may 

 injure the pupil. The principal object should be at first to get 



