88 THE ART OF TAMING HORSES. 



or fowls moving about or making a noise, will spoil the 

 effect of a good lesson. 



In an emergency, the first lesson may be given in an 

 open straw-yard. Lord Burghersh trained his first pupil 

 on a small space in the middle of a thick wood ; Cruiser 

 was laid down the first time in a bullock-yard. But if 

 you have many colts to train, it is well worth while to 

 dig out a pit two feet deep, fill it with tan and straw, and 

 build round it a shed of rough poles, filled in with gorse 

 plastered with clay, on the same plan as a bullock feed- 

 ing-box. The floor should not be too deep or soft, be- 

 cause if it is, the colt will sink at once without fighting, 

 and a good lesson in obedience is lost. 



This may be done for from 30s. to %l. on a farm. In 

 a riding-school it is very easy to have lofty temporary 

 partitions. It is probable that in future every riding- 

 school will have a Earey box for training hacks, as well 

 as to enable pupils to practise the art. 



It is quite out of the question to attempt to do any- 

 thing with a difficult horse while other horses can be 

 seen or heard, or while a party of lookers-on are chat- 

 tering and laughing. 



As to the costume of the trainer, I recommend a close 

 cap, a stout pair of boots, short trousers or breeches of 

 stout tweed or corduroy, a short jacket with pockets out- 

 side, one to hold the straps and gloves, the other a few 

 pieces of carrot to reward the pupil. A pocket-handker- 

 chief should be handy to wipe your perspiring brow. 

 A trainer should not be without a knife and a piece of 

 string, for emergencies. Spare straps, bridles, a sur- 

 cingle, a long wholebone whip, and a saddle, should be 

 hung up outside the training inclosure, where they can 

 be handed, when required, to the operator as quickly 

 and with as little delay and fuss as possible. A sort of 



