134 THE HOUSE AND HIS EIDER. 



tance before him, say a heap of stones, at which he pre- 

 tends to be or really is afraid, instead of forcing him on, 

 he should be allowed or, if it be necessary, forced to 

 stop, not only till he has ceased to fear it, but until, dead 

 tired of looking at it, he averts his eyes elsewhere. 



While advancing towards it, so often as his fear, 

 or pretended fear, breaks out, by instantly bringing 

 him to a stand-still it should in like manner be over- 

 appeased. 



In slowly passing any object which a horse appears to 

 be afraid of, the error which is almost invariably com- 

 mitted is to turn his head towards it, in which case, re- 

 volving upon his bit as on a pivot, the animal turns his 

 hind-quarters from it, and in that position with great 

 ease shies more or less away from it ; whereas, if the rein 

 opposite to it be pulled firmly, he not only instantly 

 ascertains that his rider's desire is in opposition to, instead 

 of in favour of forcing him towards the object of his fear, 

 but when his head is drawn away from it, although he is 

 able to rush forwards, it is out of his power to shy late- 

 rally. 



Now, instead of endeavouring thus to triumph ovei 

 instinct by reason, instead of allowing a horse more time 

 even than he requires to appease his own apprehensions, 

 be they real or pretended, the course which a gentle- 

 man's groom usually adopts is, like giving fuel to fire, 



