The Treatment of Foak. 73 



must be that it is brought home to the equine brain that man 

 is master. The mare should be stopped during this trial of 

 strength ; when the foal has recovered its wind and collected 

 its thoughts, start the mare off again, and repeat the lesson 

 to the foal. Finding it is not allowed to rush after the mare, 

 the foal will probably stand and sulk. Do not attempt to 

 pull it forward, leave the rein quite slack, allow the mare to 

 proceed, and await the foal's pleasure. It will soon desire 

 to join her. When it does start off again, allow it to travel 

 as fast as it likes so long as the teacher does not lose his 

 balance or relax all restraint on the rein. When the foal 

 overtakes its dam, manoeuvre to steer it to her near side so as 

 to box it up as it were, i.e., the man leading the mare is in 

 front, the mare herself on the right, and the especial 

 " tormentor " on the left. Walk it round thus with just 

 sufficient pressure on the rein for it to realise that it is still 

 being controlled. Finding itself hemmed in on three sides, 

 it will probably attempt to escape to the rear ; hold fast, let 

 the mare proceed, and calmly await events. When it does 

 decide to advance, deftly steer it into the " pocket " as 

 before. Continue on these lines, and it is astonishing how 

 quickly the average foal will grasp the meaning of it all. 

 Do not prolong the lesson unnecessarily; once the foal 

 realises what is required of it, let it out to play. Repeat 

 the lesson later in the day, and then twice daily for a few 

 days. 



A PLAN THAT FAILED. 



Lest it be thought that the author has unduly laboured 

 this particular subject, perhaps he may be permitted to give 

 an example of " how not to do it," which came under his 

 personal observation. He instructed a subordinate (a 

 graduate from a large and fashionable stud) to halter and 

 lead a certain foal. After attending to several matters 



