CATCHING THE HORSE. 81 



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 to fail in its object. 

 Horses, almost always, like having their necks 

 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 a couple of turns (see Fig. 6), while 

 the free end of the rope may be twisted once or 

 twice round the pole, to prevent it hanging down 

 too low. The operator will now take the pole, 

 with the halter then 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 



G 



