56 Training the Work Horse 



he exposes himself to punishment by turning away 

 from you. Repeat until he turns his head toward 

 you when approached. 



As this was the way you wished the horse to turn, 

 he should be rewarded by having his crest scratched 

 with the end of the whip, and if convenient by feed- 

 ing a carrot or other dainty. You are now ready to 

 teach him to follow by the method described above. 

 If he refuses to obey the command ^'come here'' 

 and runs away, strike him sharply about the heels. 

 If he obeys, caress him. Soon the animal will under- 

 stand that he is punished for running away and 

 caressed for following. When he understands this 

 he will follow and you may discard the whip. 



TRAINING TO THE USES OF THE BIT 



Perhaps no other factor in the training of horses, 

 whether for work or pleasure, is of greater importance 

 than that of educating to the uses of the bit. The 

 thoroughness with which this is accomplished will 

 go far towards determining their usefulness. Inas- 

 much as the conveyance of the master's desire to 

 the horse's mind for execution is largely through the 

 hands, reins, bit and mouth, little progress can be 

 made and none should be attempted until this means 

 of communication has been established. 



Before bitting, the mouth should be examined 

 for sores, as it is not possible properly to train a 



