The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



All movements in the stable should be slow 

 and as noiseless as possible, and the more the 

 horse is spoken to the better. Speak before 

 you go up to the horse. When you approach 

 him do so slowly, and, above all, make a 

 practice of keeping your arms quiet. If you 

 put out your hand to him, do it quite slowly. 

 This is not a fad, but very solid sense. Never 

 make a movement of your hands, or arms, 

 quicker than can be followed by the horse's 

 eye. That is a golden rule, and saves all sorts 

 of slips and accidents in the stable. If the 

 horse cannot follow the movements of your 

 hand and arm, he does not quite know where 

 they are going, or what they are going to do, 

 and shrinks and starts in fear of possibilities. 

 It is a little difficult to train yourself into this 

 system of slow movement, but Avith practice 

 it becomes a second nature, and you yourself 

 will quickly appreciate its value, by the in- 

 creased confidence and readiness wdth which 

 your horse permits you to touch and handle 

 any part of his body. Impress this on your 

 groom, and get him to practise it when groom- 

 ing, and even he will see the value of it ; for it 

 means an end to all unexpected bites or kicks, 

 which, undeservedly received as he thinks, 

 are a trial to any man's temper. 



Don't slam a bucket down, on the bricks, or 

 let the handle drop. It's just as easy to put 

 both down quietly. The same with forks, 



84 



