THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 57 



overtaking the fore one before it is sufficiently advanced to 

 be clear of it. 



The horses most liable to do this by nature, are such as 

 have high hind quarters, and low forehands, but many do 

 it from slovenliness of action, and carelessness on the part 

 of the rider. The remedy for it is much the same as for 

 stumbling. The horse must be urged by the legs to step 

 more actively to his front, and by so doing, he will acquire 

 a more even length of pace. It is worth a little trouble 

 and attention to correct this trick, for the noise is very 

 unpleasant, and by no means complimentary to the rider ; 

 nor is it wholly free from danger, for it may happen, and 

 often does, that the fore shoe is loosened, or even wrench- 

 ed off by a repetition of blows, for which the farrier is 

 blamed, and often very unjustly. A more serious accident 

 than this may occur, (viz.) for the toe of the hind shoe to 

 hang in the heel of the fore one, in which case, a very 

 serious fall is almost inevitable. 



An over-ridden and tired horse may occasionally be 

 heard to clack ; but then it proceeds from over fatigue, 

 without blame to himself or the rider ; and this is almost 

 the only occasion when it is excusable. 



Shying. 



My method of treating a horse accustomed to shy, is, 

 not to restrain him too much by shortening the reins, and 

 keeping him tight in hand, but to take as little notice as 

 possible of the mistake; and if the object be stationary, to 

 pass it frequently to convince him that he has nothing to 

 dread ; when, by patting him and giving him as much rein 

 as will in a great measure take the pressure of the bit off 

 his mouth, and letting him stand and look at what he seems 

 afraid of for a short time, he will soon gain confidence. 



He should not be flogged for shying, since it proceeds 



