RIDING AND TRAINING. 45 



Running away is usually the result of excitement, 

 either from exuberant spirits, from nervousness, or 

 from having overpowered its rider in some way, 

 such as shying ; the horse dashes off when it 

 recognises the powerlessness of the bit. 



When the horse runs away, the rider should sit 

 down in the saddle, and try to direct the course of 

 the animal : and this can usually be done, for the 

 neck and jaw are not always rigid, as in the bolting 

 horse. If the rider finds that he cannot reduce the 

 speed of the horse in his first efforts, he should not 

 fatigue himself by a steady pull upon the reins; 

 but at intervals he should take a firm hold of the 

 reins, and see if he can get any influence over the 

 horse. When the horse answers the bit by yielding 

 the jaw or by reducing the speed, the rider should 

 give strong pulls upon the reins, with short intervals 

 between each effort, so that their effects may be 

 cumulative, until the horse is brought to a stand. 

 A horse that has once run away will repeat the fault 

 whenever an opportunity occurs, and a weak or 

 timid rider should never be permitted to mount an 

 animal that has so offended. 



I wish to repeat that these instructions for the 

 management of difficult horses are intended for 

 animals that have not been properly trained : 

 I should offer no advice on this head to the rider 



