HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



137 



string or strap should be much smaller 

 than the hole. Then tie or buckle very 

 loosely around the fetlock joint next to 

 the hoof, so that they can play loosely 

 up and down when the animal is moving. 

 As soon as the horse finds that there is 

 something on his feet, he will naturally 

 think that there are stones in his road, 

 and will lift them up higher, and throw 

 them out further, and soon he will learn 

 to be a good trotter. 



Another mode is, that a small or medi- 

 um-sized flat is the best and greatly supe- 

 rior to the track system for teaching the 

 horse or colt to gather quickly. Always 

 use a very light skeleton wagon or gig in 

 training. 



3. To MAKE HIM SIT ON HIS HAUNCHES. 



— First learn the horse one idea, and this 

 is, that you are his master, and that he 

 must obey you, so that when you say 

 "ho !" he will stand still. Then, having 

 already learned him to lie down, let him 

 attempt to rise, and when he gets up on 

 his fore legs, say the word "sit!" and 

 make him understand that you want him 

 to stop at that point of his rising. Teach 

 him to hold his position, and always use 

 the same word for whatever feat you wish 

 the animal to perform — if to sit, use the 

 word "sit," and if to lie down, use the 

 word "down." 



4. To make him follow you. — Take 

 your animal to the stable, and there place 

 on him a surcingle and a bridle with short 

 reins, which may be checked up a little 

 and fastened on the surcingle. Then lead 

 him about the yard for fifteen or twenty 

 minutes, after which let go of the bridle, 

 but still continue to caress him, at the 

 same time saying constantly "come." If 

 he seems to rebel, or lags behind, give 

 him a light cut behind with a long whip, 

 but in doing this do not change your po- 

 sition from being ahead of him. Con- 

 tinue this plan until you have been suc- 

 cessful. 



5- To TEACH HIM TO PICK UP A HAND- 

 KERCHIEF. — Place on the ground or stand 

 a. white cloth handkerchief containing a 

 quantity of oats j lead the horse around 

 the yard, and when he comes to the spot 

 where you have placed the handkerchief 

 let him take some of the oats. This is 

 the first and most important lesson, and 

 its object is to fix in the mind of the 

 horse a connection between the handker- 



chief and the oats. Continue this prac- 

 tice each day for several , weeks and he 

 will soon leam to stop as readily in a trot or 

 gallop as in a walk. After you feel that 

 so far is a success, the handkerchief must 

 be doubled over and tied in a knot ; the 

 animal shakes it to get at the grain, but 

 not being successful he takes it up from 

 the ground, which is just what you want. 

 When the horse has done this a number 

 of times and finds that though he can 

 shake nothing out, but yet at each time 

 he receives a reward of a handful of oats, 

 he may be trusted to perform before an 

 audience. The last step is to persuade 

 the horse to carry the handkerchief to 

 his master, and that is an easy task. Of 

 his own will he will keep hold of the 

 handkerchief until the same is taken from 

 his mouth, and but little difficulty will be 

 experienced to coax him to walk a few 

 steps, when he knows that by so doing he 

 will be rewarded with a handful of oats 

 or a carrot for his obedience. 



6. Teaching him to stand. — Take the 

 horse, and over his back throw a strap, 

 and fasten the same to his right fore-foot. 

 Lead him about, and when you wish to 

 stop him say "whoa," and at the same 

 moment pull down the strap, which will 

 throw him on his three feet, which will 

 bring him to a sudden halt. Then put 

 him in harness with the foot-strap on, and 

 drive him a few yards. The moment he 

 attempts to move take his foot and say 

 "whoa." Get into the carriage and out 

 again; rattle the thills and make all 

 kinds of noises. Make him understand, 

 by pulling his foot each time he attempts 

 to move, and this can be done in a very 

 short time. 



7. Taming, preparations for. — Have 

 in separate bottles a quantity of finely 

 grated horse-castor, and oils of rhodium 

 and cummin. Keep the bottles well 

 corked. Place some of the oil of cum- 

 min on your hand and approach the ani- 

 mal on the windy side. He will then move 

 towards you, after which rub some of the 

 cummin on his nose; then give him a 

 small quantity of the castor on anything 

 he is fond of, and while he is about tak- 

 ing it watch your chance and get on the 

 point of his tongue from seven to ten 

 drops of the oil of rhodium. He is then 

 at your service, and will do almost any- 

 thing you desire. Follow up this advan- 



