Teaching to Back 263 



To overcome the habit, be sure that the horse is 

 obedient to the commands. Then with the double 

 safety rope (p. 208) attached, command him to back. 

 After backing a few steps, command him to stop, 

 and at the same time pull him to his knees. Con- 

 tinue this until he understands that ^^whoa" means 

 to stop, whether going forward or backward. Now 

 hitch him to a vehicle and put him through the same 

 course. Next drive him to some object that for- 

 merly provoked the habit and repeat the process. 

 It- is a good plan to carry the safety rope for a time, 

 and if he promises to repeat the habit attach the 

 rope and pull him to his knees at the command 

 ^^whoa" as before. 



Difficult to hack. — Occasionally a horse will be 

 met with that resists all efTorts to get him to back; 

 he stiffens his muscles, stretches his forefeet for- 

 ward and his hind feet backward, and will often lie 

 down on his belly in an effort to keep from backing. 

 This habit results from confusion at the time of 

 teaching the horse to back. He has perhaps been 

 punished at both ends and lies down in an effort to 

 escape his tormentors. In overcoming this habit, 

 attach the pulley bridle (p. 193) under the leather 

 bridle, and take a position near the horse's left shoul- 

 der while an assistant holds the lines. Now as you 

 give the command ^^back" have the assistant give 

 a severe see-saw pull on the lines and simultaneously 

 give a sharp jerk on the pulley bridle. This will 



