HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 121 



If you see anything ahead likely to frighten the horse do not 

 turn back, because just as likely as not the horse has seen it as 

 soon as you. Give it as wide a berth as you can without taking 

 any notice of it. If you begin to take more hold of the horse, you 

 will only make him suspicious. Meet the same thing again, if 

 possible, during your ride, and this time pass it a little closer ; 

 on no account, if the horse be shy, should the rider attempt to 

 force the animal's head towards the object he fears. If he be 

 inquisitive enough to want to have a look at it, well and good; 

 let him do so ; but never, especially in the case of a young 

 horse, put his head hard at the thing he is afraid of, and try to 

 force him up to it. If you do so, it is sure to cause a fight, 

 which will make the horse, through having been punished, 

 more frightened next time he sees the same object ; whereas, by 

 turning his head a little away from what alarmed him, and taking 

 as little notice yourself as possible, so as to get the horse to 

 think it is all right, he will in all probability pass it, without 

 doing anything more than, perhaps, increasing his pace a little, 

 and soon, finding he has no cause to be afraid, will not take 

 the slightest notice. 



Perhaps the most common fault that is found among 

 young horses in their first lessons out of the school, is their 

 reluctance to leave home. There are decided objections to 

 allowing young horses to get into the habit of always wanting 

 to be in company with others ; nevertheless, in beginning with a 

 horse that is inclined to hang at home, the best plan is to send 

 some one on a steady old nag with him for a few days, just by 

 way of giving him a lead. Nearly all young horses will follow, 

 or go with another pretty freely, though in most instances 

 there is a marked improvement in their style of going as soon 

 as they know their heads are turned towards home. Of course, 

 the quietest road that is convenient should be selected at first, 

 but the rider must not make the mistake of always taking his 

 horse the same daily round, especially if he is one of the cun- 

 ning sort, for he will very soon get to know his usual journey, 

 and have a decided objection to go any other way. It is better, 



