HORSEBACK RIDING 



ment and mettle are easily sur- 

 prised. Even an old trusty horse 

 is apt to strike out a leg in de- 

 fense, when he fancies some- 

 thing is happening behind him. 

 His natural weapon is his foot 

 and he uses it with a kick. 



When you approach a horse 

 from the front you go up to him 

 w^ith outstretched hand and a 

 friendly w^ord. There is no sur- 

 prise; the horse is put at ease and 

 you feel on safer ground w^ith the 

 animal. This rule applies for all 

 occasions — w^hen the horse is in 

 the open, whether equipped for 

 riding, or is running loose in pad- 

 dock or box stall. 



Where the horse stands in his 

 stall, tied with halter, the ap- 

 10 



