82 



Training the Work Horse 



driver in front, he then takes his position behind the 

 horse and proceeds as in teaching to back (p. 67). 

 Now that the horse obeys the command readily, 

 hitch him to the vehicle and drive part way up a 

 slight elevation. Stop him and give the command 

 ''back," followed by a see-saw motion of the lines. 



Fig. 19. — Teaching the horse to back a vehicle. 



To back the rig down such an elevation requires little 

 or no pressure on the breeching. If more convenient, 

 have an assistant take a position in front of the horse 

 (Fig. 19). By employing some such methods as these 

 the animal learns to back the vehicle in a natural 

 manner. Repeat, stop, start, back, turn to the right 

 and left until the horse is familiar with every detail. 

 Train the horse to come under the shafts. — It is 

 very aggravating to be obliged to lead the horse in 

 front of the vehicle, leave him and go back and pull 



