TO MAKE A HORSE LIE DOWN. 61 



he learns it perfectly. To make a horse lie down, 

 bend his left fore leg and slip a loop over it, so that 

 he cannot get it down. Then put a surcingle around 

 his body, and fasten one end of a long strap around 

 the other fore leg, just above the hoof. Place the 

 other end under the surcingle, so as to keep the strap 

 in the right direction; take a short hold of it with 

 your right hand ; stand on the left side of the horse, 

 grasp the bit in your left hand, pull steadily on the 

 strap with your right ; bear against his shoulder till 

 you cause him to move. As soon as he lifts his 

 weight, your pulling will raise the other foot, and he 

 will have to come on his knees. Keep the strap 

 tight in your hand, so that he cannot straighten his 

 leg if he rises up. Hold him in this position, and 

 turn his head towards you; bear against his side 

 with your shoulder, not hard, but with a steady, 

 equal pressure, and in about ten minutes he will lie 

 down. As soon as he lies down, he will be com- 

 pletely conquered, and you can handle him as you 

 please. Take off the straps, and straighten out his 

 legs ; rub him lightly about the face and neck with 

 your hand the way the hair lies ; handle all his legs, 

 and after he has lain ten or twenty minutes, let him 

 get up again. After resting him a short time make 

 him lie down as before. Repeat the operation three 

 or four times, which will be sufficient for one lesson. 

 Give him two lessons a day, and when you have 

 given him four lessons, he will lie down by taking 



