EDUCATING THE HORSE. 319 



TO EDUCATE A HORSE TO BACK AT THE 

 WORD OF COMMAND. 



This point in the education of a horse is one 

 of great importance, for no animal can be con- 

 sidered thoroughly educated till he will obey the 

 command of his driver without the necessity of 

 using the rein or the whip. Many persons in 

 order to stop their horse will draw with all their 

 strength upon the rein, and to back him requires 

 the exertion of a force enough almost to bring 

 the horse on his haunches, when in either case 

 a well-educated horse will stop or back at the 

 driver's voice without the need for even drawing 

 upon the rein. 



To educate the horse to back at the word of 

 command, let the reader take his stand behind 

 the horse and with the rein in his hand, previ- 

 ously arranged as shown in the engraving, com- 

 mence the lesson. He may, if he pleases, start 

 the horse forward for a few paces, then stop him, 

 and then with a sudden, short and pretty pow- 



