OR, The Turn Out. 87 



referred to. The first business, after the horse has given 



repeated illustrations of his capabilities by dwelling on the 



road, is to descend quietly from the vehicle, and go to his 



head, having previously handed the reins to your friend (if 



accompanied) to be held slack or loose — at the same time 



patting and speaking to the horse, and using his name. 



Wiping him over with the hand ; rubbing his ears and 



mouth, and moving parts of the harness has been known to 



turn the attention of the accidental jibber, and a steady 



day's work has been the result. After this little attention 



to the horse, the box should be mounted quietly, and not 



with a rush ; the horse should be led, if anyone is at hand, 



and afterwards allowed to proceed of his own will, and, for 



a time, must be repeatedly spoken to. The application of 



force — such as turning the wheels round, and pushing behind, 



should be avoided, as it is calculated to make the horse more 



obstinate, and, although it may succeed at first, is rarely 



effectual in the end. The following experiment the Author 



has many times found to be successful in making the steed 



glad to go forward, namely, standing immediately in front 



of the horse with a rein billett in each hand, at the same 



time putting the steady weight of the whole body against 



the horse, taking care to keep him in the middle of the 



road ; and it must be remembered that sawing the mouth 



must not be resorted to, but firm rnd steady pressure, 



backing as quickly as possible until the horse expresses an 



anxiety to proceed onward by pushing against you, when it 



will be invariabl}'^ found that the animal is anxious to start 



right away, but must be made to stand quite still until the 



driver is in his place again on the box, which must be 



mounted without the least flourish or noise. Care must be 



taken not to thrash the horse when he does go, and should 



he during the journey forget the foregoing lesson, it should 



be repeated, and the dose slightly increased, conversation 



being kept up with him the whole time. Should this fail, 



the animal is a confirmed jibber, more or less, and the owner 



should take the earliest opportunity of devoting a few 



special drives in the country, where there is plenty of space 



before and behind, and when time is no particular object. 



Some drivers have a very good system of operating upon 

 one foot only, viz., b}^ taking up the near forefoot in the 

 right hand, and pressing it upward and inward towards the 

 belly, as high as possible, thus making the horse stand 

 upon three legs until he begins to rock and show other signs 

 of impatience to go on. In loosing the foot it must not be 



