8 PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 



perfectly still, or approaches him for any purpose whatever, the 

 word "whoa" is invariably used. It is used so often that it 

 becomes a habit so strong that a man seldom approaches the 

 horse without using it. If a little boy should happen to go up 

 to a horse without speaking to him, his father would take him to 

 task, and tell him never to go to a horse without speaking to him. 

 The little fellow will naturally say : 



Well, father, what shall I say 



9" 



The father instructs him to say " whoa." The boy grows up 

 thinking he has had a good teacher, who understands the horse, 

 hence he practises what he has been taught, and in this way the 

 word "Whoa" becomes almost a household word. I say this 

 teaching is all wrong. Some one will ask the question : 



" What will you say ? He will kick if you approach him with- 

 out speaking." 



Anything to give the horse warning of your presence will do, 

 such as, <( I'm coming, Billy, or Kitty," or any other word you 

 may choose to use. But never, under any circumstances, say 

 " whoa" to your horse except he is in motion and you want him 

 to stop. If the writer understands this word, it means "stop," 

 and nothing more. 



THE HOUSE'S EYE. 



Next we will call the attention of the reader to the Horse's 

 eye. It is generally understood by horsemen that if the horse is 

 approached, while in the stall, on the near side, he will stand 

 quiet ; whereas, if you go on the off side he will squeeze you up 

 against the stall or kick you ; demonstrating that he understands 

 you on one side better than he does on the other, especially if he 

 is of a high-strung, nervous temperament. 



