40 THE HOESE AND ITS DISEASES. 



the health of the horse. In looking at the action of a 

 horse, see that his fore feet are lifted well, and that he 

 completely clears the ground, and throws his legs out 

 freely and lightly. In trotting, see that the horse does not 

 lift his feet too high, and that he replaces them firmly 

 and flatly on the ground, for if the toe first touches the 

 ground, he is liable to stumble or to trip. If the shoe be 

 examined, it will indicate the part which first comes to 

 the ground, by being most worn down. 



Training of Horses. 



Kind treatment and caresses, are the only sure 

 methods to obtain obedience, attachment, and confidence 

 in man. This maxim should be applied to horses even 

 of the most stubborn temper, for assuredly, if gentle 

 measures will not render them obedient, harsh treatment 

 never will. In short, most of the vices in horses, may 

 be traced to their being only instructed by persons of 

 brutal disposition, who destroy their temper by cruelty, 

 and injudicious severity ; others again are taught all 

 manner of tricks, for the gratification of idle folly. 

 Tractability, steadiness, and good temper, are the 

 qualities for which a horse is chiefly valuable to man, 

 so that the utmost attention should be paid by breeders, 

 to points on which depend so much of the safety and 

 comfort of those who may become their owners. 



After the colt has been partially broken in, the next 

 thing to teach him is implicit obedience to his instructor ; 

 this should be eff'ected by steadiness, and firmness, while 

 severity should be carefully avoided. He should bo 

 spoken to in a soothing, rather than in an angry tone of 

 voice — he must be taught to know the eftect of the whip 

 and spur ; but then, these must be used with great 

 caution, and only showing him that we have the power 

 of enforcing submission. If a young horse refuses to 

 allow the bit to be placed in his mouth, it must not be 

 accomplished by force, because this will only redouble 

 his resistance ; coaxing, and gentle trials day by day, 



