580 ON THE ROAD. 



disunited stop him. Riding in company is best deferred 

 till you have taught your horse to go straight and well by 

 himself. An experienced man once told me that it took 

 two years to make a good hack. Perseverando must be the 

 rider's motto ; and don't sicken and confuse the horse in an 

 attempt to teach too much at any one time. 



A saddle horse should be told and forced to walk when 

 that pace is desired, and not allowed to jog. A single word 

 is the best method of instruction. " Over," " Back," " Whoa," 

 " Walk," are indispensable. Diminutives of " Whoa " are 

 applicable to a soothing or pacifying policy : " Who-oo-boy," 

 and the like; but a decided " Whoa " should cause a horse 

 to stop, not only to reduce his speed, but to stop dead. 

 Many a life has been saved by a horse having been so 

 taught. 



Accustom your horse to the frequent change of the whip, 

 from one hand to the other, and to the laying it on him 

 gently, and in a friendly way " all over." It will be useful 

 in fly-time. You should always gently signal him before 

 turning a corner, so that his mind is prepared and his body 

 balanced for the move. 



In turning a horse use pressure of your leg behind the 

 girth. This twists his head the right way. Nothing looks 

 much worse than a man pulling round his horse's body by 

 the rein. Bridle-wise horses are not of any use to people 

 who have both hands at liberty. When you have the reins 

 fast in your left-fist, as I have described, and you want your 

 horse to go to the right, move your fist to the left, and vice 

 versa. You thereby shorten the rein on the side you wish 

 to go, which presses the snaffle-ring on opposite side, and 

 tells the horse the direction you wish him to take. There 



