Breaking the Horse. 83 



been made to understand that the blow will 

 not be repeated if he promptly moves in a par- 

 ticular direction. 



M. Baucher has suggested a very easy and 

 simple method of effecting this purpose. 

 Stand by your horse's head, holding the bridle 

 in one hand and the whip in the other, and 

 tap him on the chest with the whip until he 

 endeavours to escape you by stepping back. 

 Hold him fast, follow him steadily, and con- 

 tinue to use the whip. When he finds that 

 stepping back is useless, he will endeavour to 

 spring forward. Immediately drop the whip, 

 and show your satisfaction by caressing him. 

 Repeat the lesson until he springs forward at 

 the slightest touch or even movement of the 

 whip, whether held by a person on foot or on 

 his back. You cannot mount any horse with 

 safety, which you are not sure of being able to 

 drive forward at your pleasure. 



There is one modification of M. Baucher's 

 system which I would here venture to suggest. 

 I am inclined to believe that a young horse 

 will be sooner familiarized with the spurs, and 

 will more readily learn to understand their 

 meaning, if his introduction to them takes 



G 2 



