GENERAL PRINCIPLES 23 



To force a horse past the object of his dishke by 

 thrashing him is to demonstrate the worst form of 

 horsemanship. I am sorry, however, to say that this 

 is a custom only too frequently practised even by 

 those whom experience ought to have taught better. 

 It is well when riding a horse, such as we have been 

 discussing, towards home, to take different routes, 

 urge him past his stable and so forth until he no longer 

 " hangs fire " at his favourite spots. 



After a horse has been brought into subjection he 

 should again and again be faced with the object of 

 his dislike until it is all but absolutely certain that 

 he is in no danger of repeating his " knavish tricks " 

 in its presence any more. Be careful, however, never 

 to display the slightest sign of " funk." Once the 

 horseman begins to show hesitation the animal will 

 assuredly take due advantage of the weakness of his 

 rider to re- acquire his old habit in an even worse 

 degree than before. 



A horse which has acquired vice during his training 

 and yet yields to the superiority of horsemanship 

 shown by a good rider, will often return to his old bad 

 ways when ridden or driven by an incompetant 

 horseman. 



