162 PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. 



feet before yon have got the second fore leg strapped, don't 

 attempt to resist liis doing so. Let him get up without inter- 

 ference, and take a dance on three legs if he likes. Then put 

 him quietly down again, without any hurry, bhister, or hard 

 work. Don't let liim see you in a hurry or putting out your utmost 

 strength. When both liis legs are strapped you may let him rise 

 to his knees, and sit down and watch him as long as he likes to 

 keep on tb.em. It will not be many minutes, and he will be 

 covered with foam when he at last resigns himself to lie helplessly 

 down. The advice usually given to push with all your might at 

 his shoulder is worse than useless. The straps will do all the 

 work, and the less you do the better. 



oGo. — The mere act of putting down will be a wholesome 

 lesson to any refractory horse, and may be repeated as often as 

 necessary. The more often he is put down, the less resistance he 

 will make to it. If very often repeated he will get to lie down 

 without strapping up his leg, as soon as you pull his head on one 

 side, and eventually will lie down at the word of command, or with a 

 gentle touch behind the knee. This, however, is not a desirable 

 accomplishment to teach a horse for ordinary purposes, and a few 

 proofs of your power to lay him helplessly at your feet whenever 

 you please, will usually be suifficient for the most refractory 

 horse. 



3G6. — Nearly all that we have advised to be done to the 

 timid horse, whilst on the ground, should be repeated when he 

 returns to his legs. Begin with him first on three legs. Place 

 smooth harmless objects under his tail, and give him plenty of 

 pulling and handling between the hind legs. Then let dowm his 

 foot, and whilst he is either well held or tied up, or tied to his 

 tail (347), work a smooth pole all over him, and especially 

 about his hind legs and tail. Continue this without hurting 

 him as long as he resents it in any way, and never think of 

 attaching any horse to any kind of vehicle until you have 

 made him quite indifferent to the roughest, harmless handling 

 about his hind quarters. Push the pole on every part of the 

 hind legs, and bring it against the horse in every way that it 

 would be possible for the cross bar of any carriage to run on 



