SHYING 351 



stands next ; and it often proceeds from a disposition 

 to be playful. This vice is far less common among 

 high-bred horses than with those which are half- 

 bred, although we have met with it in some of our 

 first racers. 



When we have a horse given to shying, our first 

 attention should be directed to the cause ; that is, 

 whether it proceeds from friskyness, timidity, or de- 

 fective vision. 



When shying proceeds from playfulness, it is 

 difficult to judge what mode of cure is best to be 

 adopted, because if corrected for it, he will associate 

 with any object that diverts his attention the infliction 

 of punishment, which will tempt him to run away, 

 under the dread of a flogging ; and if caressed for 

 the fault, it is liable to induce him to repeat it. But, 

 of two evils, gentle correction must be adopted, and 

 rather to pass by the object than to take him up to 

 it. He should also be spoken to sharply. 



If shying proceeds from fear of new objects, the 

 true way to correct him of this is not to force him 

 up to them, but to pat him and soothe him, but 

 avoid beating ; and take care to pass the objects of 

 his fear again and again, always going nearer to them 

 every time you pass. This will familiarise him to 

 them. Seeing that these are harmless, he will soon 

 learn to pass by unnoticed any novel object which he 

 may meet with upon a road. 



When an animal is given to shying from defective 

 sight, the only method to effect a cure is to take him 

 up to it, and in the act of doing so he must be 

 coaxed to approach it, and on no account must he 

 be beaten ; and although it sometimes happens that 

 the horse will manifest great reluctance to do so, he 

 should be persevered with, and not allowed to proceed 



