CONTACT WITH CARRIAGE. 109 



him in shafts, but put a quiet horse iu the shafts and fasten the 

 kicker on as out riti-o-er. 



449. — If the horse is in shafts alone, and has never been 

 before a carriage without blinkers on before, it will be desirable 

 that a man should be on each side of his head with a moderately 

 long strap attached to his bit, so that they can keep him in any 

 desired direction, and cannot be thrown from his head however 

 violently he plunges. He will exert himself pretty actively when 

 he first sees the wheels rolling after him, but will soon be obliged 

 to stop, and thus prove that the wheels stop when he stops. 

 You must not keep him on the same three legs long, but put one 

 leg down and strap up the other. If you are not very skilful at 

 this, or have not a practised eye to see when the horse can be 

 trusted a few moments, it will be wise to unhitch the horse 

 whilst you do it. 



450. — When he has ceased to be alarmed about the wheels and 

 carriage running after him, unhitch the breeching and traces, and 

 taking the shafts out of the backhand, draw the carriage on to 

 his hind legs. Push it backwards and forwards on to him 

 without hurting him, and get him to care as little about it as 

 about the poling you have previously given him, before you 

 desist. 



451. — ^You have now gentled him to the senses of touch 

 and sight, you may next deal with his ears. Tie a common sack 

 to his tail and let it drag on the ground after him. Then tie a 

 large tin can of some kind to the end of the sack, and let it 

 jump about and rattle after him. If he has any particular alarm 

 for any kind of sound, give him plenty of it, and let him see that 

 noise is very harmless. 



452 — In this way a horse will find out that a carriage may 

 follow him up, or run on him, or make any amount of noise 

 without hurting him, and will soon cease to make any desperate 

 efforts to run away from it. 



453. — You may now get a piece of email strong rope, about 

 18 feet long. Double it, and taking the middle of the rope, 

 put it over the horse's head, behind his ears. Bring it dow^n on 

 each side of his face, and cross it in his mouth, taking the ropes 



