HORSE-TRAINTNG MADE EASY. 87 



he fears, shies, and starts with even mora tlaj-m 

 than before, sometimes attempting to run away. 

 Gentleness and persuasion are the best means 

 of breaking up this habit; let the animal stand 

 and look at the object he fears, speak to him 

 encouragingly, and gradually he will approach it. 

 After he has passed it, turn him around, passing 

 the object slowly several times, and his fear 

 vanishes. By thus gently managing him, he 

 soon places confidence in you, and a gentle word 

 from the driver will induce him to move on by 

 the object. It is an old saying, that the most 

 effectual way to make a cowardly dog fight is to 

 put him in front of his antagonist, in such a way 

 that he cannot retreat ; but we never heard any 

 one recommend that he be whipped at the same 

 time; yet we whip a horse for being afraid to do 

 that which we desire him to do. Reason and 

 experience both forbid the practice. It is our 

 duty to act mercifully towards an animal so noble, 

 BO beautiful, and so useful to man. Contemptible 

 indeed is that being who disregards the plaintive 

 murmurs and inefiectual resistance of the poor 

 beast which chance has thrown into his possession 



WEAVING. 



This is an unsightly habit, but not of so much 

 consequence as either of the foregoing. It con- 

 sists in the animal moving his head and fore- 

 quarters in quick succession from one side of the 

 stall to the other, like the action of a weaver's 

 shuttle, or like the hyena in his cage. The ani- 

 3 



