15^ TEACHING TKIOK>J. 



TEACHING TO KICK AT COMMAND. 



If your horse is an ill-dispositioned animal it would 

 not be advisable to experiment much with this trick, 

 for it would be eas}' to make that kind of a horse irrit- 

 able and possibly cause him to kick without command. 



A horse of a mild disposition may be taught to 

 perform this act without any risk of spoiling him. 

 Take a pin in right hand and prick the near hind leg 

 with it and say •'•'kick.'' When he makes a move with 

 his foot backwards, reward him. Eepeat the pricking 

 and rewarding for a few minutes each day and he will 

 soon learn to kick with the left foot when you say 

 ^'kick.'' Or, if you would want him to kick at signal 

 without word of command, you can teach the signal 

 by having a small tack in your whip and proceed as 

 before. In a few lessons he will kick as soon as you 

 point the whip toward that leg. 



TO LIE DOV^N. 



Secure a suitable place before you attempt to teacii 

 this trick, which should be a nice soft grassy spot, or 

 have the ground covered with a good coat of straw. 

 There will be no better way to have him understand 

 what you want him to do than to put him down a few 

 times by my process of' laying a horse down, as described 

 under Subjection. While he is down treat him with 

 the greatest attention and kindness; give him some oats 

 out of your hand, walk around him a few times, and 

 then caress him again. Do not keep him lying very 

 iono- at one time. After two or three lessons you will 



