OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD WHOA. 335 



hard pull, but bring her to a full stop as before ; jog her 

 a while longer, and try her again. Should she still prove 

 untractable pursue the same course, and bring her to the 

 barn. At the next trial, we will put the Kemble Jackson 

 check on, and if that does not succeed, she will have to be 

 driven at the same time as the Falcon, when, by putting 

 her behind his sulky, she will be compelled to keep at the 

 rate we want her to go. I do not think it wih 1 be necessary 

 to resort to this plan, as, from the kind way she has lately 

 gone in her exercise, I think she will still continue to favor 

 us with good behavior. Be very careful not to pull at her ; 

 the least possible pull on the reins the better, as long as 

 they are kept taut. I find your horses are all obedient to 

 the word whoa, when spoken energetically. Should the 

 mare act like wanting to go faster, talk soothingly to her ; 

 as " gently, my lady ;" " careful, my girl ;" but when the 

 whoa comes, be sure that it is foUowed by instant sub- 

 mission to the mandate. 



PUPIL. One of the first lessons I 'give when breaking 

 colts is to stop at the word whoa, and I never use it after- 

 wards except when they are wanted to come to a full stop. 

 To signify to them that they are going fast enough, I say, 

 "steady ;" to slacken their gait, " slower my boy, slower," 

 and I find that a difference in intonation is soon learned, 

 and I can talk to them, and they will obey as if almost 

 human in their understanding. To teach a horse, that has 

 not been taught the importance of the word that signifies 

 stop, I use the small rope that I have spoken of in the 

 allonging process. The loop is put round the lower jaw, 

 and the cord carried over the neck near the withers, run- 

 ning from there through the loop. This gives a double 

 power, sufficient to place the animal in such a position 

 that he cannot possibly move ahead. You lead him along, 

 and when the word is given, you accompany it by an in- 

 stant poll on the rope ; he cannot move till you slacken 



