INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING HORSES. 25 



time he obeys. The utmost gentleness must be observed in 

 order not to excite him, and the lesson should not be long enough 

 to tire him. Five to ten minutes being the best length, repeated 

 at intervals of a few hours. As soon as he understands what 

 you desire he will probably back promptly at command. 



TO mae:e a horse follow you. 



The directions make simple what have hitherto been among 

 the mysteries of the circus. Turn the horse into a large stable 

 or shed, where there is no chance to get out, with a halter or 

 bridle on. Go to him and gentle him a little, take hold of his 

 halter, and turn him toward you, at the- same time touching 

 him lightly over the hips with a long whip. Lead him the 

 length of the stable, rubbing him on the neck, saying in a steady 

 tone of voice, '^ Come along, boy ! " or use his name instead of 

 " boy," if you choose. Every time you turn, touch him slightly 

 with the whip, to make him step up close to you, and then caress 

 him with your hand. He will soon learn to hurry up to escape 

 the whip and be caressed, and you can make him follow you 

 around without taking hold of the halter. If he should stop and 

 turn from you, give him a few sharp cuts about the hind legs, 

 and he will soon turn his head toward you, when you must 

 always caress him. A few lessons of this kind will make him 

 run after you, when he sees the motion of the whip — in twenty 

 or thirty minutes he will follow you about the stable. After 

 you have given him two or three lessons in the stable, take him 

 out into a small field and train him ; and thence you can 

 take him into the road and make him follow you anywhere, and 

 run after you. 



TO stand without holding. 



To make a horse stand without holding, after you have him 

 well broken to follow you, place him in the center of the stable 

 —begin at his head to caress him, gradually working backward. 

 If he move give him a cut with the whip, and put him back to 

 the same spot from which he started. If he stands, caress him 

 as before, and continue gentling him in this way until you can 

 get round him without making him move. Keep walking around 

 him, increasing your pace, and only touch him occasionally. 

 Enlarge your circle as you walk around, and if he then moves, 

 give him another cut with the whip, and put him back to his 

 place. If he stands, go to him frequently and caress him, and 

 then walk around him again. Do not keep him in one position 

 too long at a time, but make him come to you occasionally, and 

 follow you around the stable. Then make him stand in another 



