402 THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 



much more so than he gets credit for. If a driver has no 

 settled system of his own, or if he is rash or severe without 

 cause, it is not likely that confidence will be inspired in the 

 horse, even in a long time. Especially is this the case when 

 the horse is punished without his knowing what it is for. 



In nine cases out of ten, a horse punished without his 

 knowing what for is punished for his driver's fault, not for 

 his own. Confidence cannot grow in such circumstances. 

 If you observe two good trotters who have been accustomed 

 to work together in double harness, you will see what speed 

 and steadiness follow from confidence in each other. Each 

 knows that he or she can depend upon the mate to keep up 

 the stroke, and maintain the even pull and level action. It 

 is of just as much importance that the single-harness horse 

 should understand and have confidence in his driver, as it is 

 for a double-harness horse to know the power and ways of 

 his mate. Unless this sort of mutual understanding can be 

 established between the driver and the horse, the latter can 

 never be relied upon to do his best. The readiest way to 

 produce it is to use him gently but firmly, and to accustom 

 him to the system of telegraphing to him by means of the 

 reins in your hand and the bit in his mouth. The whip is 

 to be kept very much in the background while you are cul- 

 tivating confidence in your horse. It is more likely to 

 prove an obstacle than an aid. 



I now come to the last critical point in this matter, 

 when the horse is tired, and inclined to break. In a long 

 brush, you will often have reason to look for an attempt to 

 break, and it will generally be in circumstances when the 

 horse must not be suffered to do it. There are times, as I have 

 shown, when, with a tired horse, a break may be brought on 

 with advantage ; but there are others when all will be lost if 

 a break' occurs. To prevent it, give the shift with the bit 

 when you perceive that he begins to tire, and soon renew it ; 

 this will revive and rouse him, and take his mind off the 

 break which he has felt he was about to make. The signs 



