208 PATIENCE. 



vocation, combined with very regular rather slow, 'and sufficient 

 daily work, that will keep the horse constantly associated 

 with the collar, without any of the alarm or suifering he has 

 learned to connect with it, is the surest way to convert a jib into 

 a moderately useful worker. Such horses should never be fed 

 above their work. Grass, roots, or any soft or bulky food will 

 keep them less nervous, and consequently more reliable than too 

 much corn, or hard, concentrated food would do. 



481. — Much that we have said on this subject under the theory 

 and practice of breaking to harness, will require to be borne in 

 mind in the treatment of these spoiled horses. The different 

 ways of retrieving a mistake (395 to 399) will often apply here, 

 as well as what we have said under the head of exercise (139, 140). 



482. — The collar proud horse, or the horse that is prone not 

 to start well in a cold collar, should have the harness put on some 

 hours before he is wanted to work, and the traces tied tightly 

 back to the breeching, so as to press the collar on to the warm 

 shoulders. If that is not found sufficient to secure a quiet start, 

 the horse may be lounged with the collar so tied, just enough to 

 warm him a little before he is put into the carriage, or asked to 

 pull anything (139, 140). Take whatever precautions of this 

 kind may be necessary to secure a quiet start when first put into 

 the carriage. Under such treatment the horse will slowly but 

 constantly improve, and will ultimately forget the habit with 

 regular constant work, but if once you put him into the collar, 

 and whip him up to it, you will elfectually undo all the results 

 of months of careful training. There is something in cold itself, 

 which has a great effect upon these horses, so that you will find 

 that they want more precautions or preparation to start them on 

 a cold day, than on a warm one. This more especially applies to 

 a cold summer day, or to a clipped horse, as horses with fine 

 short coats are more affected by a cold collar than horses with 

 their winter coats on. 



483. — The horse that will not pull when the load comes 

 heavily and slowly behind him, is not so easily managed, and the 

 habits of such horses are so various that 'volumes could not 

 describe them all. For heavy draft, such horses are useless on 



