TRAINING FOR DEAUGHT. 257 



stance, and then by degrees the bitting can be altered 

 to suit all the circumstances both of the animal and 

 the driver. Thus one might begin with a snaffle in 

 the manner indicated above, then go on to a light 

 jointed bit of some kind with a curb, and end perhaps 

 with an unjointed one. 



Another mistake frequently committed is the put- 

 ting an untrained horse to a vehicle in some narrow 

 court or yard, which necessitates perhaps a sharp turn- 

 ing immediately after starting. This should be avoided, 

 and the start made, if possible, on a straight line and 

 on a quiet road, for which reason early morning is the 

 best time for this sort of work. 



Then again it is a mistake to take a young horse out 

 too far the first time ; and it is advisable, when prac- 

 ticable, to make a round home, and not return by the 

 same road 3'ou went out. It is wonderful how soon 

 and easily horses contract habits, which become very 

 troublesome afterwards ; therefore in training a young 

 horse one must avoid anything like a routine that 

 is easily mistaken by the animal for a part of its regu- 

 lar duty. One or two quiet steady assistants are in- 

 dispensable, and they should be instructed what to do 

 beforehand ; the less talk and noise made the better ; 

 and the groom, or whoever feeds and tends the animal, 

 should always be near its head at first ; his voice always 

 should inspire confidence, and always does so, unless he 

 is in the habit of ill-using his charge, which is not a fre- 

 quent occiuTence. At first starting, or whenever a hitch 

 occurs, this man should be immediately at the horse's 

 head, ready to pat its neck and give it a good word. 

 Sometimes, when one is obliged to train raw young 

 horses quickly, a cavesson with a man holdiug the 



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