EXERCISES IN HANDLING 49 



made vicious, daily handling, accompanied by soothing 

 and caressing words, will in a short time have a 

 salutary effect, and in this way you will soon be able 

 to get him accustomed to bear portions of harness, 

 such as a saddle, collar, bridle, etc. 



Handling the Head. — Before handling the 

 head, put on the halter- twitch or the comanche bridle. 

 If the animal you are about to deal with is a 

 biter, put the wooden mouth gag on as well. 

 After this, pass the hand under the lower lip, 

 and rub the latter at the same time. Then move the 

 hand under the lower jaw and along the side of the face 

 until the back of the jaw is reached. When you have 

 got this length, you may continue your rubbing 

 gently upward to the poll, avoiding the ears for the 

 present. 



Then bring the same hand quietly down over the 

 forehead until the nose and upper lip are touched, 

 and gently rubbed over. When you have done this, 

 repeat the same performance on the off side of the head. 

 After gentling the head for two or three lessons in this 

 way, gradually work on to the ears, pulling them lightly 

 in a downward and outward direction. Some horses 



D 



