276 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



has done wrong in passing by, and on the next 

 occasion for alarm he will either delay as long 

 as possible in dread of the remembered whip- 

 ping, or else will plunge quickly by the object, 

 and, perhaps, add to the vice of shying that of 

 running away. The course pursued by some 

 persons of making a horse pass and repass a 

 number of times in succession an object which 

 has caused him to shy is an erroneous one, as 

 it gives him a chance for again resisting, and 

 makes the rider appear vainglorious and pre- 

 tentious. 



Whether a horse shies from real fright, or 

 from mere pretense or affectation, the severe 

 use of whip or spur to force him by the object 

 he is shying at will always do more harm than 

 good. Mildness and forbearance, combined with 

 firmness, will invariably do much more to tran- 

 quillize him and to render him obedient than 

 severity and harsh measures. Horsemen who, 

 from actual experience, are well able to advise 

 say, " Let the horse alone, neither letting him 

 perceive that we are aware we are advancing 

 toward anything tliat he dislikes, nor doing 

 more with liim when in the act of shying than 

 is necessary for due restraint and a steady hand 

 upon the reins." 



When a horse shies from pretense of fright, 



