34 



ON DRIVING. 



allowed to remain might, from his weight on it, get 

 worked in by morning so as to ruin him: lock-jaw is 

 often so produced. If you find after being cleaned out 

 they are more or less feverish, stop with cow-dropping, 

 then clean out again in the morning, and he will be ready 

 for his drive again that day. 



A perfect driver keeps up a sort of electric continuity 

 between his hand and his horse's mouth, in consequence 

 the latter becomes so extremely fine and sensitive to the 

 former that a slight motion will very often stop a skip or 

 break. Before leaving this subject entirely it occurs to me 

 to add something on the importance of the word Wo. 



3d. It is a very good habit to accustom your horse to 

 stop quickly at the word given sharply, he must of 

 course be so taught. Have a plain snaffle bridle put on, 

 and take him in the riding-room, walk beside him, caress, 

 and talk to him, stop suddenly and say Wo, he will 

 stop because you do ; and by repetition he begins to 

 associate the word and the action, and to stop at the 

 word. Now be a little more particular, step a few feet in 

 front of him and, with uplifted finger, looking him straight 

 in the eye, give the word Wo. Give him a few lessons 

 daily of five or ten minutes each, and he will understand 

 what you want. So modulate your voice as that a sharp, 

 quick word stops him suddenly, whereas a prolonged 

 Woa does it gradually. Whenever he does exactly right 

 reward him by patting approval ; he understands that as 

 well as you. 



Carry out the same whilst driving. After a few days' 

 quiet practice with him you may relax the reins, so as not 

 to pull at all ; let him feel they are so, and stop him at 

 the word ; if he answers satisfactorily, get out and pat 

 him and give him a tuft of grass ; in a few minutes you 

 can do it. Now, going down a hill at a good rate, sud- 



