TRAINING 67 



with wilful resistance to our wishes, and when punish- 

 ment is justly deserved, it should be administered by 

 the whip * or spurs at the first moment the horse shows 

 an inelination to do wrong ; there must not be any 

 hesitation — " bis dat qui eito dat " — and when using 

 the w^hip the rider should have it in the left hand — as 

 the horse nearly always whizzes round to that side — 

 and be careful to leave it on the skin after the hit, so 

 as not to draw the skin and leave a wale. He should 

 also sit wtII down into the saddle and be careful to keep 

 the bridle hand steady and the reins moderately slack, 

 so as not to check the impulsion created by the attack. 



I think the rider gets a better grip of the saddle 

 when his shoulders are turned towards the side on 

 which the whip is being applied, and the leg on the other 

 side is closed in well back on the flank ; this will also 

 prevent the horse from yielding his quarters to the 

 whip. 



When feeling angry with a horse, it is best to 

 whistle, or to laugh and shake loose the muscles which 

 anger contracts ; one will not then punish him in such 

 a w^ay as to cause exasperation ; anger should not do 

 anything more than stimulate energy, it should be 

 concentrated inwardly, and not be allowed to dictate 

 procedure. Time spent in raging and grumbling at 

 what has happened would be much better employed 

 in trying to recall the first indication that trouble was 

 brewing, so as to know when to take preventive 

 measures another time. When a feeling of opposition 

 arises it is best to slacken the hands and all the muscles 

 and sink into the saddle in a state of absolute relaxa- 

 tion ; this is on the principle of doing unto others what 



* A faiiiy thick cane is better than a whip, as it will not 

 sting, nor is it so likely to raise a wale. 



