Causes of Shying 257 



his hind legs, he should be hitched to a vehicle. At 

 first the double safety and war bridle should be re- 

 tained and one of the kicking appliances suggested 

 (p. 202) should be provided, so as to be able to meet 

 any emergency. If the horse shows any tendency 

 to kick, give the command ^^ steady" and pull him to 

 his knees. Repeat this two or three times, and about 

 the fourth time, instead of using the safety rope, give 

 the animal a severe set-back with the lines by having 

 the left line tight and giving a severe pull with the 

 right. This gives him the impression that you have 

 the same power over him with the lines that you have 

 with the safety rope. Continue this, removing the 

 ropes as soon as it is safe, though they should be 

 carried along for some time. 



Shying. — This is a very dangerous habit and 

 usually results from two causes, a natural nervous 

 or timid temperament and defective eyesight. As 

 the latter is beyond the field of the trainer, requiring 

 the attention of a veterinary surgeon, we will not 

 consider it here. We are more especially interested 

 in shying as the result of a nervous temperament, 

 as much can be done to overcome it if the proper 

 means are employed. With this class of horses the 

 habit is largely due to improper handling. Perhaps 

 no other single cause results in so much shying as 

 the improper use of the whip. The timid horse 

 comes to some object that frightens him, and true to 

 his instinct he pauses, or he may notice the object 

 s 



