FIRST LESSONS. 248 



AND TO RENDER HIM QUIET WHILE BEING HANDLED AND MOUNTED. 



The rider or trainer should approach the horse, without 

 haste or timidity, holding his whip under his arm. He 

 should speak to him in an ordinary tone of voice, and 

 should pat him caressingly on the face and neck ; he will 

 then take the reins of the curb-bit in the left hand, at a 

 distance of six inches from the branches, and in such a 

 manner as to be able to present as much resistance as pos- 

 sible to the efforts which the horse will make to release 

 himself. Take the whip in the right hand, and raise it 

 quietly to the height of the horse's breast, against which 

 it should be struck at intervals of a second, and with a 

 steady and uniform movement. This will, of course, cause 

 the horse to draw back, in order to get away from the 

 whip ; as he recedes, follow him steadily, keeping a uni- 

 form pull upon the reins, and tapping the breast with the 

 same steady movement of the whip. The horse will soon 

 tire of his unsuccessful attempts to back away from the 

 pain, and will try another movement, making a start for 

 ward. At that instant the pressure on the bit should be 

 discontinued, and by caresses the horse should be made to 

 understand that he has done as we desired, by coming 

 toward us, and that in this way he can avoid being whip- 

 ped. Repeat this exercise, and continue it for half an 

 hour, being careful always to follow the horse as he re- 

 cedes, and to reward him for compliance, by slacking the 

 hold of the reins, and caressing him. Be sure not to 

 caress him when he has not done well, and not to punish 

 him after he has yielded. This first lesson having been 

 given in the morning, it should be repeated for half an 

 hour in the afternoon. This will be sufficient to cause the 

 most timid or stubborn horse to respond to the least intima- 



