68 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



tlic H|)iir, will tell llic, liorsc. tli;it tliorc. Ih Tiotliirrfr to fear, arid will f^nvc 

 liirn confidence in liis rider on a fiitiin; occasion. 



Tlic sliyin*^ from Hkittislincss or afiectal.ion is quite; a dinerent aflair, 

 and must ho coiKinercd — but liow ? Severity is altoLjetlier out of 

 plae.e. If lie is forccid into contact with the object by <liiit of correc- 

 tion, tlie dr(!ad of punislimcnt will afterward be associate*! with that 

 obje(;t, and on the next o<;casion his startings will be more fref|Ment and 

 more da!ie;eroiis. The way to cure him is to ^o on, tnrninir as little as 

 ])ossibl(; out of tin; road, [^ivinijj a harsh word or two and a gentle touch 

 witli the spur, and then takinj^ no more noti(5e of the matter. After a 

 f(!W times, what<!ver may have be(!n the object which h(j cliose tc 

 8(!lect as the pretend(Ml cause of allVi^ht, he will [)ass it almost with- 

 out noti(;(!. 



Under tlie head Hrcak'nui-rn wc described how the colt may bo 

 cured of the habit of shyin*^ from fear or n(!wness of objcicts; and if ho 

 then is a(;customed as much as possible to the obj(;cts amon^r which his 

 services will be refjuire<l, \\(\ will not possess this annoyinj^ vi(;e when ho 

 grows to maturer ai,^e. 



It is now jrt'iK^rally admitte*! by all riding-masters and colt-breakers, 

 tliat a great deal more is to be elhu'ted l)y lenicuit than by harsh tn^at- 

 iiient. llewanls are found to ojx'ratc; more beneficially than punish- 

 ni(!nts, atid theniforo the most s(nentifi(^ und [)racticed riding-masters 

 ado[)t methods based u])on the former. 



L(!t us not be und(;rst,<)od to mc^an that the animal is to receive any 

 cncourageiiKMit to shy ; for by no other expression can be characterized 

 that erroiKMHis and foolish ])ractice of patting the horse or"mukiiig 

 much of him," either just before or during the time Ik; evinces shyness, 

 '^riie former is bad, Ixjcausc; it draws the attention of the animal to the 

 obj(;ct he drea<ls; the latter is worse, Ix'cause it fills him with the im- 

 pression eit h(!r that tli(; object itself is really terrifh^, or that lie has acted 

 right in shying at it, and ought to do so again. 



Whether W(! are approaediing the frightful object or the liorsc; is actu- 

 ally sliying, "w(f sliould let him alone," " wc; should take no notice 

 \vliat(5ver of him," neither letting liim perceive that w(? are aware that 

 ■W(; are advan(;ing towanl any tiling \w. dislikes, nor do more witii him 

 whil(5 in the act of shying than is iKicessary for duo restniint with a 

 steady hand ujxui the rein. We may depcuid upon it, that battling on 

 our |)art will only serve to augment aHVight and arouse resistance on his, 

 and that the most judicious course we can pursue is to j)ersev(!re in mild 

 forbearant usage. 



Shying on eonrnig out of the stable is a habit that can rarely or 

 never i)e cured, it pioeeeils from the remembrance of some ill-usago 

 or hurt which the animal lias re(;eived in the act of proceeding from the 

 stai)le, su(di as striking his head against a low doorway or entangling 

 the harness. 



When the cure, howevcM*, is (!arly attempted, it may be so far over- 

 come that it will b(f unattended with thmger or diflic-ulty. The horse 

 should be bridled wImui led out or in. lie should be held short and 

 tight by the head, that lu! may feed he lias not liberty to make a leap, 

 and this of itself is often sulHeient to restrain him. runishment, or a 



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