120 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



task in a much more methodical manner. The sling 

 is thrown gently over the neck of the designated steed, 

 but the latter is not thrown with the jerk to the ground. 

 He is allowed for a little while to prance about at the 

 full length of his tether, till his first fright be over. 

 Gradually the wild animal becomes reconciled to the 

 unwonted restraint, and the buyer leads him away 

 quietly to his stable, where it will often take a year's 

 tuition to cure him of the vicious habits acquired on 

 the Steppe. 



After saying so much of the tabunshick, it will be 

 but fair to give some account of the life led by the 

 riotous animals committed to his charge. During 

 what is called the fine season, from Easter to October, 

 the taboon remains grazing day and night in the Steppe. 



During the other six months of the year, the 

 horses remain under shelter at night, and are driven 

 out only in the day, when they must scrape away the 

 snow for themselves, to get at the scanty grass under- 

 neath. When we say the horses remain under shelter, 

 it must not be supposed that the shelter in question 

 resembles in any way an English stable. The shelter 

 alluded to consists of a space of ground enclosed by an 

 earthern mound, with now and then something like a 

 roof towards the north, to keep off the cold wind. 

 There the poor creatures must defend themselves, as 



