VICE. 129 



away from it, possibly dropping his hind legs into the ditch 

 by the roadside ; whereas if the opposite rein be pulled, his 

 head is drawn away from it, he may make a rush forward, 

 but he cannot swerve laterally. Having ascertained the 

 objects of his special aversion, you should by every means 

 possible familiarize him with them. If pigeons are allowed 

 to fly and flutter about the stable, they will perch on the 

 horse's back and head and work wonders in the direction 

 of calming his fears. Some horses have a great objection 

 to passing a decomposed carcase of an animal ; even if they 

 cannot see it, the putrid smell appears to affect their highly 

 sensitive olfactory nerves. 



Should the rider be in a hurry and mounted on a bad 

 confirmed shyer, he must, on being warned of his intention, 

 take a firm hold of the bridoon in both hands, and draw the 

 bit sharply through his mouth, squeeze him with both legs, 

 turn his head away from the object, giving him the spur on 

 the side away from the bo^ie^ and at a sharp pace rattle him 

 past it. 



Some horses are very awkward when meeting or being 

 overtaken by vehicles. In Great Britain any conveyance 

 meeting you passes on your right hand. My advice to the 

 reader is when mounted on any animal, no matter how per- 

 fectly quiet, staunch, and well-mannered, on seeing anything 

 unusual approaching, to get his horse well in hand. Should he 

 evince any symptoms of alarm and fix his gaze on the coming 

 object, speak reassuringly to him, bear on the near rein, and 

 pressing him with the left leg, touch him with the spur on that 

 side. " A stitch in time saves nine," so pull his head gently 

 towards the hedge, wall, pavement, or whatever may hem 

 you in on the left side, distract his attention as much as 

 possible, and endeavour to meet and pass the object without 

 his seeing it. The same apphes to any object overtaking 



K 



