124 ACCOMPLISHMENTS TAUGHT. 



257. — He will have more to do than most other riding 

 horses in the way of passing and meeting vehicles, and other 

 objects on the road, and great care and patience should be 

 exercised to teach him to do this pleasantly, without getting 

 dangerously near them, or shying too far away from them. We 

 like to leave a horse alone at such work as much as we can, only 

 interfering when he does wrong, as this habit makes him a safer 

 horse in the dark, when he alone can see what to do. There is 

 no time that a man feels so charmed with a good horse as when 

 he has brought him past a hundred real dangers which he could 

 never have avoided with his own eyes. 



He should be taught to go a little faster when overtaking 

 than when meeting an object. A good bold rider may allow him 

 to select a soft path near the side of the road to save his feet, 

 but when so indulged there is always more risk of a sudden 

 swerve to one side, so that a less accomplished rider had better 

 teach his nag to keep the best path he can find nearer the 

 middle of the road. 



Cantering on hard mettled roads is an expensive luxury, 

 ■especially with a heavy weight, as few horses stand it long without 

 failing in the leading fore foot or leg, so that a young man who 

 wants to save his horse from lameness had better be content to 

 walk or trot. As in every other riding horse, a good, fast, easy 

 walk is a valuable accomplishment. 



258. — ^Your horse will have been taught to carry every 

 article of dress (188, 191), he must also be thoroughly reconciled 

 to an umbrella, or the most glaring uniform ; should be practised 

 at standing quietly for his rider to shake hands, and not to fear 

 the approach of a lady carrying or swinging about a parasol. 

 He should also be taught to put himself alongside and retreat 

 well from a gate, so as to assist his rider in opening it on his 

 back. All this is very easily taught if it is set about patiently, 

 as part of your business, and before a horse has been spurred and 

 knocked about for not doing it without teaching. 



THE OVERLAND TRAVELLER. 



259. — The horse for the overland traveller should possess 



