126 THE HORSE : ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 



for a good round figure, recommended as quiet in 

 harness and a splendid goer. Very often on the agree- 

 ment a horse will be entered as free from shying, quiet 

 in harness, and sound in every respect, and before the 

 new owner has had it a week it will shy and jump about 

 the road at the sight of a bicycle or a piece of paper. 

 Now this is very often the fault of the driver. Numbers 

 of horses are completely spoiled simply for want of a 

 little thought on the part of the person who is driving. 

 I will endeavour to make it quite plain what I mean in 

 this respect. A horse may be going comfortably along 

 the road and suddenly sees something in his way which 

 frightens him a little and causes him to cock his ears, 

 or turn a little upon one side. The driver notices this 

 and at once gives the animal a lash with the whip on 

 the opposite side from which he shies. If you ask that 

 person why he lashed the horse, he will probably tell 

 you it was to prevent the animal shying. This is very 

 wrong, as it adds fuel to the fire. Next time the animal 

 sees anything he will not only be frightened of the object 

 or sound but will be expecting a lash from the whip, 

 which will probably cause him to do something desperate 

 to escape this double source of uneasiness. Should it 

 be a nervous horse and frisky as well, the consequences 

 will probably be serious, as it will do almost anything to 

 get out of the way if thoroughly frightened. If it be on 

 a country road you may find yourself in a hedge or a 

 ditch, if in a street on the pavement or through some shop 

 window. 



