290 Modern Riding; and Horse Education 



altogether different category, and often repay per- 

 severance and patience beyond the trainer's expecta- 

 tions. Punishment with the whip or spurs gener- 

 ally increases the trouble, so we must look for other 

 means of enforcing mastery and obedience. Here 

 again we must go back to elementary v/ork ; the ob- 

 stacles cannot be too low to commence with, and 

 bran and not corn is the best food for the delinquent 

 until he has seen the error of his ways. His corn 

 must afterwards be regulated, little being allowed at 

 first, and the quantity gradually increased. It is 

 waste of time trying to cure vice if the horse is 

 above himself. The animal can be thrown immedi- 

 ately after the refusal (see page 235 on Appli- 

 ances), with his head facing the jump and about ten 

 yards from it; he should be held down for five 

 minutes or so with his head slightly raised off the 

 ground, and then taken at the fence again. Another 

 way of treating him is to place him in front of the 

 jump and tie up one foreleg, keeping him in this 

 position until he is tired. Any of the appliances 

 mentioned for coercing a coward may be used in 

 conjunction with these two punishments. As soon 



