36 MANAGEMENT OF A RUNAWAY HORSE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



MANAGEMENT OF A RUNAWAY HORSE. 



IST. A runaway horse is, after all, of not much account, 

 unless he be a kicker in addition. In the last case he will 

 kick himself clear of the vehicle, and if you escape with- 

 out an injury you are fortunate. If you have control of 

 your horse's head, which by this time, from having encour- 

 aged a sensitive mouth, you should have, you must reason 

 the thing out very quickly, if he is running away really 

 from fright. You might as well pull against a stone wall 

 as his head until you have prepared him for your pull ; 

 take him in hand a little, and talk to him, Wo, so, ho; 

 try so, ho, wo, HO, sharp; at each word he will turn his ear 

 and incline it a little more. If properly broken as above 

 to the word he will stop ; but if not, and he still has a 

 little idea of its meaning, your words will ease his fright 

 and give him encouragement. You may now, having 

 taken the edge off his scare, take him fully in hand. 

 Lean forward, wrap a rein around each hand, and at the 

 word Wo lean back and put all your strength and weight 

 into one square pull only for a second ; let up both reins 

 suddenly ; that will startle him, he will be at a loss to know 

 what next ; then alternate your pulls, now to the right, 

 sharp; again to the left, short, a few times; when you are 

 a little winded, then fall back, give a straight pull, and 

 say Wo. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred he will stop. 

 Or if away out in the country, your wagon and harness 

 strong, road good, and you feel safe of it being so for a 

 mile or more, as soon as he gets over his fright, and you 



