278 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



transforms that which he cannot distinctly see 

 into something terrifying. Ocular science has 

 not advanced so far as to have determined a 

 remedy for these visual difliculties except by 

 the use of glasses ; and to place spectacles upon 

 a horse to improve his sight would be incon- 

 venient as well as decidedly unique. Animals 

 thus afllicted are unsuited for either saddle or 

 harness, as they are more dangerous than if 

 they are totally blind, and the only safe course 

 to pursue when one is compelled to use them 

 will be the very undesirable one of completely 

 blindfolding them. Many a horse has been 

 severely punished and condemned for vicious- 

 ness, when his fault arose from defective vision. 

 Sometimes a horse becomes discontented and 

 uneasy from being always ridden over the same 

 road ; this dull routine is irksome to him, espe- 

 cially if he be spirited, and he ventures upon 

 some act of disobedience in order to create 

 variety and excitement. He may commence by 

 sideling toward other horses or objects on his 

 left, or by suddenly turning around to the right. 

 In the first case, the rider must instantly take a 

 snaffle-rein in each hand, and instead of attempt- 

 ing to turn him from the object, she must rein 

 his head directly toward it, and then back him 

 from it. By these means, his body wdll form a 



