90 Training the Work Horse 



command him to go '^steady/' when he will calm, 

 if the signal and command have been taught prop- 

 erly. Then he should be made to face the object, 

 and if convenient, to feel it with his nose. Never 

 let the horse hurry past an object or noise that 

 frightens him. It may take some skillful manipula- 

 tion and much patient effort to familiarize him with 

 all the objects that cause him alarm, but without 

 such training his education is essentially incomplete 

 and at any time he may be frightened out of his 

 senses, become uncontrollable and a serious accident 

 may result. 



^^ Family broke ^ — In the show ring, on the horse 

 market, in the sale stables and in fact wherever 

 horses are shown or dealt with the terms ^'family 

 broke'' and ^^ family horse" are used. These terms 

 signify that the horse has been trained so that he is 

 perfectly safe to drive by any one accustomed to 

 handling horses. Such animals are easily harnessed 

 — bridled, cruppered and the like — often will fol- 

 low at the command ''come here," go under the 

 shafts at the signal, stand while being hitched, while 

 mounting the vehicle, arranging the robes and until 

 commanded to go forward. In addition they are 

 familiar with all noise, such as brass bands, car gongs 

 and the like, as well as with all objects, such as auto- 

 mobiles, motor cars, engines, trains and objects by 

 the roadside. The importance of such training is 

 emphasized with horses of this class, since, other 



