88 THE FAMILY HORSE. 



ness and fright, some horses learn to shy from pure mischief. 

 In any case the driver should keep the horses teady, and get it past 

 the object of its fright. An encouraging word, all the while holding 

 the horse firmly in hand will generaUy restore its confidence. Forc- 

 ing the horse up to the object only increases its panic, and in no 

 case should the lash or any severity be used after it has got past the 

 object. 



Eunning away, when it becomes a confirmed habit, is one of the 

 worst a family horse can have. It is shying carried to the bitter 

 end. The sudden opening of an umbrella, the discharge of fire-arms, 

 some other alarming sight or sound, or the vehicle running upon its 

 hind legs, frightens the horse, which bolts and runs. The driver, af 

 much panic-stricken as the horse, jerks nervously on the reins, 

 saws on the bit, and rapidly yells " whoa! " communicating his own 

 terror to that of the horse, already quite enough, until the animal 

 is worked into frenzy. If the run does not end in some frightful 

 catastrophe, it is through sheer good fortune. After one such experi- 

 ence the horse is more liable to bolt than before, and a few repeti- 

 tions of it completely upsets his nervous balance. Such a horse 

 should never be driven by women or children, for no one knows the 

 day or the hour when it will start on a mad race. A strong, self- 

 possessed man often drives such a horse for years without trouble, 

 for a horse never runs away while it has confidence in its driver. A 

 few words, in a reassuring tons, when the horse first bolts, will 

 often bring him to reason and avert a catastrophe. 



