52 THE CARE OF HORSES 



out ' the back view ' in case he should run away. 

 But even arguing on those very absurd lines, why 

 should a horse be induced to advance if by seeing 

 things he is terrified? When the blinkers now in 

 use are worn out, I don't think any up-to-date 

 harness-maker will ever reproduce them. If they 

 are worn they should be well open, so that the horse 

 can see on both sides as well as in front. In these 

 days of motor-cars, steam-rollers, etc., it is best to 

 let him see for himself, and experience shows that 

 he soon gets accustomed to them, and is less easily 

 frightened when he can see and judge for himself 

 than when he is kept in a state of doubt and anxiety. 

 Apply the test to yourself. Walk along a dark road ; 

 presently a terrible and thunderous noise comes from 

 somewhere ; you can't see ; its approach is sudden, 

 and you are only too conscious of being in the line 

 of its advance. Where will it go ? It rapidly gets 

 louder. Frantic fright seizes you ; no time to dodge 

 it to the right or left. Better run your hardest in 

 hopes of finding a place of safety ere you are over- 

 whelmed by the sound-emitting monster and crushed. 

 Well, don't you think some sort of thought like this 

 works in the horse's brain, and he, too, wants to bolt? 

 It shows his superior wisdom, and not his stupidity. 



The Crupper is also often left off now, and in 

 accordance with our rule, to have as little harness 

 as possible, we think this is an improvement. It 

 does no harm if it fits well, but it has often been the 

 cause of accidents when fitting badly, and also it 

 allows less play for the harness, and in going down- 

 hill especially may often become a cause of irritation. 



The Hame Rein, if used at all for convenience as 

 a leading-rein, should be kept loose enough for the 

 horse to put down his head, as he naturally does in 

 travelling uphill. In that case it can do no harm. 

 The only fear is that if it is there at all some thought- 



