THE-:- HORSE 



Opening and Closing Gates. — To open a 

 gate from the back of a horse that is not 

 broken to this maneuver may often require 

 a great deal of patience on the part of the 

 rider. 



Bring the horse up to the gate and urge 

 him with the heel or whip until he is stand- 

 ing sideways and next to the bolt. When he 

 is standing in this way care should be taken 

 to make no sudden movement on his back. 

 The rider should then lean slowly toward the 

 gate, keeping at least one rein taut. When 

 the lock is open, with the proper aids, move 

 the horse toward or away from the gate, as 

 the case may be, before he, of his own ac- 

 cord, moves. 



To close a gate, riding the horse to the 

 new position of the gate upon its hinge, 

 swing it to, and follow quickly with him to 

 the closed position of the gate. If the gate 

 swings back toward the horse, and the horse 

 shies back from the gate, this procedure will 

 have to be continued until the animal will 

 advance quickly toward the closed position 

 of the gate and stand without moving, even 

 though the gate may swing back against him. 

 In this way the gate can be closed. 



Talking to a Horse. — Some horses are 

 peculiarly susceptible to sound, and at a crisis, 

 or at a time when it is desired that every fac- 

 ulty and every muscle of the horse should 



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