298 The Book of the Horse. 



of the boots, and the trouser spur, which is attached to the boot witli straps. The best shape 

 of box spur for walking is the swan-necked, which has the advantage of allowing the trousers 

 to fall nearly to the bottom of the heel. Trouser spurs with straps are less expensive than 



box spurs, and avoid the necessity of fixing boxes in all your 

 boots. 



In the original form the horseman who wore trouser spurs 

 was troubled with two sets of straps — one for the spurs, the other 

 for keeping down his trousers ; a simple improvement has over- 

 come this difficulty : by sewing an inch and a half of trouser strap 

 to the sole strap of the spur, one strap does double duty. When 

 you have buckled on your spurs, you have only to button the 



THE TROUSER SPUR, WITH STRAP ■' - , . , 



coMuiNATio.'^. inside button of your trousers to the button-hole of the additional 



strap. 

 For hack purposes, it is better that the necks of the spurs should be very short. At any 

 rate, inexperienced horsemen, if obliged to wear spurs for a sluggish horse, diminish the 

 chances of unwitting spurrings by selecting spurs with short necks, and taking all the points 

 off the rowels. Spur buckles may be dispensed with by employing india-rubber instep straps, 

 buttoned where the buckle usually hangs. 



TO MAKE A HORSE LEAD PLEASANTLY. 



It is a great convenience that a hack should lead and follow pleasantly when you have 

 occasion to dismount and walk any distance on foot. The best examples of horses following, 

 accompanying, and going before a man with a leading-rein are to be seen in the displays 

 of roadster trotters at fairs and horse-shows. Their free going and obedience to the voice 

 and rein are delightful to witness. It is an acquirement very easily imparted. The needful 

 instructions were very clearly given by the famous American, Rarey, in his original pamphlet. 



" Provide yourself with a common gig-whip and three or four carrots cut in slices. Lead 

 the horse out in either a halter or a common watering-bridle. A closed barn or riding-school 

 is the best place for all instruction, because there is then nothing to distract your horse's 

 attention ; but a quiet lane will do as well. Begin by fondling your horse, talking to him in 

 horse language, and giving him one or two bits of carrot, for which, if he has not been fed 

 recently, he will be eager, and begin to push his nose into your hand for more ; then commence 

 by leading him backwards and forwards with one hand, holding the gig-whip trailing behind 

 you with the other, calling to him by name, if he has one, all the time, as thus : — ' Come — • 

 — come along, come along, old fellow,' touching him up gently, or sharply, as the case 

 may be, on his hind-quarters with the point of the gig-lash to drive him forward, and fondling 

 and rewarding him as he comes up to you"" hand. He will soon learn to press forward 

 to avoid the flick of the whip behind, and to come to your shoulder to be caressed and 

 rewarded. Instead of flying from you he will learn to seek safety by your side, and follow 

 you anywhere." 



When you wish a horse to follow you who has not been thus trained, the best plan is to 

 walk on before him, holding the reins at full length, without looking at him. 



Time and patience are well bestowed in teaching a horse such things as to stand still to 

 be mounted, to start at a walk, to walk his best pace whether ridden or led, and to follow his 

 owner in perfect confidence wherever he may lead. 



