CHAPTER XVII. 



HORSE VOCABULARY. 



The vocabulary of words to be used in our relations with the horse, 

 should be very carefully arranged, so that no two words have a similar 

 sound and never use more than one short word for any one action. We 

 should be very choice in the selection of the words which we use in 

 handling our horses, and we would strongly urge that every horseman 

 who reads this book, will feel as we do in this matter, and adopt the 

 vocabulary here devised, in the hope that everybody will eventually adopt 

 the same, and then our horses will understand the language of every 

 horseman — it being the same. 



CHOICE WORDS FOR OUR HORSES. 



As a large majority of those who handle horses have no particular 

 choice in the words used with their horses, and often use a combination 

 of words that even the intelligent human being can rarely comprehend, 

 is it any wonder that our horses have no better understanding of what 

 is said to them? Then as no two horsemen have any well established 

 vocabulary for their communications with the horse, is it not time some- 

 one made up a list of words, for a beginning at uniformity? 



There seems to be a general understanding that the word whoa is to 

 be used when we wish to stop. This is a very good word and we 

 would not change it, but would emphasize the matter that it should 

 never be used except when we wish to stop still, and not use it to slacken 

 the pace or fcr any other action. The word back is also a good word for 

 the purpose, and should be used only when the backward movement 

 is desired, and never in connection with any other word, as is too often 

 heard "whoa-back," as this would certainly be confusing. 



We should be as choice in our commands to our horses, as the officers 

 of an army are to their men; and when everybody consents to the use of 

 certain definite words for specific actions, then, and not until then, can 

 we buy and sell or trade horses and have them understand what we say 

 to them, which is the only rational manner of having the horse under- 

 stand what we desire him to do. 



KIND WORDS BETTER THAN HARSH BITS. 



We are all aware that many will say that the bit is the only means of 

 controling and directing our horses, and "with the whip in one hand and 

 the lines in the other, we can force him to do our bidding." Yes, this 

 can be done only to a limited degree, but to have the best service of your 

 horse, he should understand what is wanted of him and then he will 



