68 Training the Work Horse 



give the see-saw pull. Stop at the command ^^ whoa.'^ 

 Do not tire the horse by continually backing him for 

 a prolonged period. Start him forward at the 

 command ^'get up"; stop him at the command 

 ^Svhoa" and repeat the backing lesson at the com- 

 mand ^^back" until he obeys the voice promptly. 



HARNESSING, HITCHING AND DRIVING THE HORSE 



To be harnessed is a very important part of the 

 horse's education. Animals that have behaved well 

 up to this time often become confused and not only 

 disobey commands but may become uncontrollable. 

 This comes about naturally when the horse is har- 

 nessed and hitched without proper preparation. We 

 have seen that pressure in front induces the horse 

 to go backward, and that pressure behind induces 

 him to move forward (p. 28). Thus when the horse 

 is harnessed and hitched without proper preparation, 

 and started forward at the command ^'get up," the 

 pressure from the breast-harness or collar induces him 

 to step backward. Now he has received the com- 

 mand to go forward and the stimulus to move back- 

 ward, which confuses him, as he cannot do both. If 

 he disregards the command and obeys the stimulus 

 of the pressure and moves backward, the breeching 

 presses against the quarters, thus inducing him to 

 go forward. The horse's confusion is now greater 

 than before. While he is moving back and forth 



