HORSE-TRAINING MADE EASY. 87 



always give it to him, and he will then obey yon 

 promptly when showing him publicly. 



TO SHAKE HANDS. 



Take your position in front of the horse, say 

 Give me your right foot, or Shake hands ; he does 

 not understand you ; you convey the idea to him 

 by taking a pin and gently pricking him upon the 

 right leg, he at once lifts it up; as he does so take 

 it in your hand and caress him ; he understands 

 by this that he has done what you wanted him to 

 do; after repeating this a few times, put your 

 hand towards his leg and crack the thumb and 

 fingers, he anticipating the prick lifts his foot; 

 should he fail to do so have your pin handy and 

 use it lightly. By this means he soon learns to 

 give you the foot at the crack of the thumb and 

 fingers. As soon as he gives one freely, teach him 

 in the "^ame manner to give the other one. 



TO KICK WITH THE RIGHT OR LEFT FOOT. 



Care must be taken in teaching this trick, that 

 you have a horse not predisposed to vicious pro- 

 pensities, or you may make a confirmed kicker; 

 and then you will have the habit to break up. A 

 horse of a mild disposition may be taught to 

 perform thus without the risk of his becoiuiug a 

 kicker. I have taught one of my ponies to kick 

 when I desire him to do so, and he cannot be 

 made to K?c^ unless the whip is used lightly upon 

 his hh-A r rts. Having selected your animal. 



