258 Outdoor Vices and Whims 



just as he gets even with it, and again, true to his na- 

 ture, he jumps in an endeavor to get away. In either 

 case, instead of permitting the horse to get acquainted 

 with the object, the driver takes the whip and by 

 punishing the animal forces him past and may con- 

 tinue the punishment long after the object is passed. 

 It is in some such way as this that the habit of 

 shying is formed. 



The very nervous horse will sometimes shy at the 

 most trifling objects and no doubt occasionally im- 

 agine the object of his fright. The sudden rustling 

 of the leaves or a piece of paper caused by the wind, 

 stumps, stones, logs, pools of water, flashing light 

 and the like are common objects. The automobile, 

 electric and steam cars and the traction engine often 

 excite the horse to shy. Few horses are so steady 

 but that they will show alarm at a pig that runs 

 and grunts, particularly after night. Whatever the 

 cause of the horse's fear, he must be made familiar 

 with it and taught that it will do him no harm. 



To overcome the habit of shying it is absolutely 

 necessary that the horse understands and obeys the 

 commands. Next familiarize him with strange ob- 

 jects, as suggested for the work horse (p. 85) and 

 the wild horse (p. 237) . After working with a rather 

 familiar object, as old papers, which were suggested 

 for the work horse, then take an object that causes 

 the animal special fear and with the appliances sug- 

 gested for the wild horse thoroughly educate the 



