272 ON RIDING A FLIGHTY HORSE 



self to go off in one ; and even then, you had better 

 not attempt to hold or take a pull at him. If you do, 

 it will most likely alarm him. The best way at first 

 will most likely be, for you to sit on him as you would 

 on a hack, cantering along the road. In pulling him 

 up, you must do it very gently. Having done it, let 

 him stand to blow, till he chooses to walk away of 

 himself; and in coming to the troughs with him, if he 

 appears to notice them, do not force him up to them, 

 but turn him away and walk him about until the other 

 horses are coming up to water. He will most likely go 

 with them to the troughs without being in the least 

 alarmed." 



The horse above described has generally good speed, 

 but is a jade in a greater or less degree. If his temper 

 can be preserved by gentle treatment, some little work 

 may be got into him, which will bring him something 

 stouter for the length he can come ; or perhaps in his 

 race he may be got to go his best pace a few strides 

 further than usual. The groom, with a view to attain 

 this point, will probably send him lightly clothed (or, 

 perhaps, without any clothes at all) over the sweating 

 ground on the morning this is to happen. If the dis- 

 tance is not too far from the stables, it is very probable 

 the groom will walk instead of riding to see the horse 

 go over the ground. As the groom is going along, he 

 enters into conversation with the boy, telling him how 

 the horse is to be rode. He says, — " You must mind, 

 boy ; you know your horse is a flighty one ; he may 

 perchance make too free with himself in some part of 



