Indications Based on Instincts. 1 37 



proper indication for the lead with the right foot 

 is a tap of the whip on the right side, but this ap- 

 pears to be lacking in good theory, and might 

 prove very confusing to a horse, despite the fact 

 that the animal can be made to learn anything as 

 an indication. A tap of the whip under the right 

 elbow would be more consistent with the horse's 

 action, although it is quite possible, as a feat, to 

 teach a horse to lead with the off shoulder by 

 pulling his off ear, or his tail, for the matter of 

 that. But indications are best when they tally 

 with a sound theory of the horse's motions. 



Reverse causes will induce Nelly to lead with 

 the left shoulder. Not, of course, at once. For 

 though she will do it in a circle or figure eight, 

 on the road she may still be often confused. It 

 requires much time and practice to make her per- 

 fect. But once Nelly catches the idea, you can 

 surely succeed in impressing it on her for good 

 and all, and though she will blunder often enough, 

 she will in the end learn it thoroughly. 



When you start out to make Nelly lead off 

 with one shoulder, be sure you accomplish your 

 object. If she leads off with the other, stop her 

 at once, and try again. Always succeed with a 

 horse in what you undertake. If you cannot, on 

 any given day, make Nelly lead right, do not let 

 her canter at all, but keep her on a trot or a walk. 

 It requires a number of successful trials to make 



