142 THE HORSE. 



progress of the vehicle, by propping himself up for a 

 strong resistance, when he is brought to a sudden 

 stand. There is no necessity for finishing a diive as 

 if life or death depended upon the last stride. 



No horse should be driven with a tight rein. It is 

 a great mistake to suppose that hard holding will keep 

 him on his feet. It will only render his mouth so hard 

 that the bit will be of little use to him, unless it is 

 handled by a giant. A man with good touch and 

 capabilities for diiving, can keep a horse on his feet by 

 merely feeling that there is a bit in the mouth. Some 

 horses can bear to be driven against their bit, but 

 others are so constructed that they cannot stand it 

 without spoiling their method of going, and cm-tailing 

 their stride. They will perhaps break their trot for a 

 sort of half canter. ^Rlany horses have their mouths 

 ruined by the way in which they are driven in single 

 harness. The diiver sits on one side of the vehicle — 

 he strikes the horse on the same side ; the horse 

 flinches from the whip ; one rein is pulled to keep him 

 straight ; and in the coui-se of time his mouth is com- 

 pletely spoiled ; whereas laying the whip occasionally 

 over the horse on the off side from the driver would 

 have kept him straight for the road from the first. 



It may often be remarked, that in approaching a 

 corner the driver takes his horse as far out from the 



