48 THE HORSE. 



eary for offering a few observations on this branch 

 of the subject. Not that any remarks here made 

 will materially serve to teach the science of the hand 

 in the application of that science to the mouth of a 

 horse ; but what is of much more consequence to 

 men of business on the road, a few words may pos- 

 sibly answer the purpose of enabling them to obtain 

 a more entire control over such horses as fall in their 

 way. The man of business has no time to devote 

 to a study of this description, and even if he had, 

 without the assistance of a competent instructor, he 

 would be at the best sadly imperfect. Nor would 

 tie, with every advantage from books and teachers, 

 acquire a knowledge of it on the road. Any attempt 

 CO gain experience in it there, would only have the 

 effect of knocking the horse up and wearing him out; 

 exemplifying the wisdom of Lord Pembroke's ad- 

 cice already quoted. It is, therefore, chiefly to the 

 aian of business that these instructions are addressed, 

 ii^et others may derive some benefit from them ; those 

 for instance, who have not the inclination to study 

 the various peculiarities and tempers of horses, and 

 who would submit, not only to nat^iral, but to ac- 

 quired bad habits in them, rather than take the 

 least trouble to avail themselves of the means sup- 

 plied by nature herself of curing their defects, de- 

 veloping the beauties of their shape, or improving 

 their paces. The same reflections may also be ser- 

 viceable to another class of persons, who expect one 

 horse to perform the work of two or three. 



With regard to making the mouth of a horse, or 

 teaching him any thing new, or improving his paces, 

 the first thing to be observed is, that he must be fresh, 

 and only taken out of the stable for a short time at 

 every lesson, while being taught, and until he is 

 completely fixed in that lesson, or all the labour 

 will be vain. It is the mode of teaching them that 

 makes horses which caiTy themselves well, valuable; 



