IO2 



METHODS OF HORSE-CONTROL. 



open, and averse from being captured, no man unaided 

 could possibly capture him. The first thing to do is to make 

 the rope halter as already described if an ordinary 

 halter be not at hand, and then to get the horse to stand 

 quietly in some convenient corner. We may make him move, 

 or stop, as may be required, by gently working a long pole 

 held in the hands across the body, alternately, behind and 



in front of him ; and, having got 

 him into the proper position, we 

 may induce him to stand steady, 

 as I have found by experience, by 

 touching him on the neck, and 

 then rubbing it with the end of 

 the pole. I have hardly ever 

 known this plan to fail in its 

 object. Horses, almost always, 

 like having their crest scratched. 

 As soon as the animal will stand 

 still, while his neck is being 

 "gentled" with the stick, the 

 halter may be put on the end of 

 the pole by three turns (see Fig. 

 21), and the free end of the rope 

 may be twisted once or twice 

 round the pole to prevent it hang- 

 ing down too low. The operator will now take the pole, 

 with the halter rigged on to it, and will endeavour to bring 

 the crown-piece of the halter behind the ears, without 

 frightening the animal, while holding the end of the pole 

 a little above its head (see Fig. 22). He can repeat the 

 precautions I have described for making the horse stand 

 still, as he may think necessary. As soon as the crown- 

 piece of the halter comes behind the ears, he should swing 

 the pole smartly down in front of the animal's nose, and then 



Fig. 20. Rope halter with 

 knot, to prevent it pinching the 

 horse's jaws. 



