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a time, and then trying again. Sometimes, however, there 

 is no room for this, and then the only plan is to try and 

 bring the head romid, either with a view of galloping in 

 a circle, or to run the head against a fence or even a 

 strong gate ; sometimes anything is better than a straight 

 course — as, for instance, into a crowded thoroughfare, 

 where there would be an almost positive certainty of mis- 

 chief; and in such a case it is better to do anything than 

 to persevere in the course which the run-away is taking. 

 Here the horse must be pulled into any insurmountable 

 obstacle ; and all risk must be run of damao^ino^ him or 

 even his rider, who will, however, generally escape with 

 slip;ht bruises if the horse is run full tilt acrainst the ob- 

 ject, and not too obliquely, which will not at all answer 

 the purpose. Backing is necessary for all horses to be 

 taught, though not so often required as in harness-horses. 

 It is always one of the first things drilled into a colt by 

 its breaker, and the finished and broken horse will as a 

 matter of course, readily obey the hand of the rider when 

 he gently draws him back. The pull should not be harder 

 than the particular mouth requires, some horses being 

 easily irritated by too severe a confiiiemeut of the mouth. 

 If a horse obstinately refuses to stir, the bit may be gently 

 "sawed" from side to side, which seldom fails to make 

 him stir. When backing is adopted by the horse with 

 vicious intentions and contrary to the will of his master, 

 it is called "jibbing," and is a most unmanageable trick, 

 for which the remedy is patience. Punishment never 

 answers, and the horse only jibs the more ; but quietly 

 waiting until he is tired, the aniuial will generally give 

 up the figiit, and continue his progress in the desired 

 direction. Passaging is a feat oi horsemanship never 



