THE USE OF BLIKDS 0:N^ HORSES. 131 



he wants to keep out of danger by the very fact of his 

 shying. 



We must consider that a horse leading an artificial life, 

 like ourselves walking in the dark in a strange place, 

 don't see what is around him if he has blinds on and 

 is, therefore, naturally timid and careful. If a horse is 

 too careful and takes too wide a circuit in shying, it is 

 with the best intentions from his instincts. But because 

 he does it a little too much, and more than his driver 

 sees necessary, he should not be abused but spoken to 

 softly and kindly, and thus encouraged, for he means no 

 wrong. The stupid " lunk-head " will go so close to a 

 hole that one wheel will fall into it, w^hile the horse of 

 intelligence will keep well away from it, but not having 

 studied geometry he does not know the exact length of 

 the axles and the distance necessary to keep from the 

 danger. Man, himself, don't keejo away from danger at 

 all times, though he has the advantage of sense and 

 reason supplied him. 



The " lunk-head " is called "'a familv horse " that don't 

 care where he goes and depends on his driver to look out 

 for danger, or he expects to be pulled and hauled about 

 and guided by the reins which supply him with all the 

 sense he wants, while the intelligent horse that wants to 

 see for himself is called a *^ shyer" that does care, and 

 w^hile he often over-does it he as often gets cursed at and 

 whipped. AYhen horses stop with some drivers they are 

 petted and coaxed till they start ; then they are whipped, 

 chucked and beaten as if (to them) for going on. If they 

 are to be petted for what they should not do, and whipped 

 for what they should do, how are horses to understand 

 it? 



A shying horse and a sulky, balky horse are different. 

 Shying is not a vice ; it is more a habit than a fault, 

 knowing that he does not mean it. There are times 

 when a shying horse would save life if he'd only shy at 



