JIBBING. 313 



page 168), open snaffle bridle, and standing martingale, 

 to the side to which he more readily bends. Having 

 accomplished this, we should endeavour to get him, by 

 taking a wide sweep, to turn to the other rein, and, if we 

 are successful, should circle him freely on it, turning him 

 and changing the direction of the circle so as to produce 

 the best result. If he remains obstinate, we should take 

 him out of the cart, and put him through the previous 

 discipline, as we may deem advisable. As soon as we 

 think he has given in, we may put him again between the 

 shafts, and give him another trial. In attempting to start 

 or turn the animal, we should on no account use the whip, 

 except to raise it as a signal for the horse to go on, or pos- 

 sibly to crack it. Having accustomed him, while using 

 the long reins, to receive the click of the tongue or the 

 sight of the raised whip as a signal to start, he will almost 

 always obey it at this period of the lesson. While the horse 

 is on the circle, a light feeling of the inward rein will also 

 be an indication for him to move on. When the horse 

 circles and turns, with the cart behind him, in perfect 

 obedience to our signals, we may gradually load it with 

 any suitable objects, so as to accustom him to weight 

 on his back. When he takes all this in good part, we may, 

 while keeping him at a walk, get an assistant to quietly 

 mount into the trap, and give him the reins, as soon as 

 the animal shows that he does not mind the presence of a 

 person behind him. The horse may now be taken into the 

 open, and circled and turned by the driver a few times 

 before being taken on the road. 



We should be careful not to employ any words or other 

 signals that might remind the animal of previous acts of 

 disobedience which, presumably, had been successful in 

 their object. When breaking a jibber, I like to use an 

 open bridle ; because I find that horses go " kinder " with^ 



