296 BREAKING FOR SPECIAL WORK. 



the fore feet outwards when off the ground), or from any 

 rocking movement of the body, and the legs must have 

 a certain amount of forward reach, so as not to give the 

 idea of the feet being lifted up and placed down on the 

 same spot. In this artificial gait the action of the hind 

 legs will have to be sacrificed to some extent to that of the 

 fore ones. His school work may be limited to the walk 

 and trot, at which we should collect him sharply, and at 

 the same time press him forward with the legs, while hold- 

 ing the hands high. While riding this horse at a trot the 

 rider should not rise in his stirrups ; for if he does so, he 

 cannot fail to more or less disturb the balance of the ani- 

 mal's body. The use of heavy shoes will increase the knee 

 action. In driving him, the principle of collecting him 

 with whip and hand and keeping up his head should be 

 observed. 



THE SHOOTING PONY. 



Having thoroughly broken the shooting pony according 

 to the principles already discussed, we may make him steady 

 to the gun by the rope- twitch and the word " steady " 

 (see page 120). A turn at the head and tail method (see page 

 155) might be used as a preliminary to the education by 

 the rope-twitch. It may be well to teach the animal to 

 lie down (see page 144). 



MULES, ZEBRAS AND THE PRJEVALSKY WILD HORSE. 



These animals are so stiff in the neck that there is great 

 difficulty in giving them a good mouth. Mules, as a rule, 

 are timid animals which take time to make up their minds 

 to do anything unusual, and are consequently apt to be 

 misunderstood by men who treat them as if they were 

 high-couraged and impulsive horses. Mules, I have found, 

 possess more affection than horses for those who are kind 



