300 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



master, and the horse ever after refuse to obey his hand. 

 Severity in training is merely an ebullition of the breaker's 

 temper, and there is no necessity for such when dealing 

 with a creature that is really anxious to learn and obey. 

 Gentle indications will, in all save extreme cases, accom- 

 plish tenfold more than brute force. Such, at all events, is 

 my conclusion, after very close and practical study of the 

 subject in hand. 



Leaping ought not, as a rule, to be taught until the animal 

 has attained its fourth year, nor ought the pupil to be 

 mounted during the lessons for the first three or four 

 months that are devoted to them. To lead in long reins, 

 turning the colt in a nice quiet paddock that has a low 

 hedge or gorsed hurdle across the middle of it, will be the 

 proper method, and, as all young animals are imitative, it 

 will be a great advantage to have an old skilled horse 

 taken over the jump several times in easy fashion, in view 

 of the youthful learner. I have made youngsters jump 

 brilliantly over hurdles that were raised by degrees a great 

 deal above their original height, by simply standing on the 

 off side of them with a measure of corn in my hand, and 

 shaking it temptingly, calling out cheerily at the same 

 time, and always plentifully rewarding my pupils when 

 the boundary had been cleared. 



This sort of teaching is only pleasant excitement for the 

 colt ; it is not task-work ; it injures neither structures nor 

 temper, and is unattended by either accident or risk. 

 The training of horses, both racers and hunters, as at 

 present conducted, is conducive of many evils, as is proved 



