MULES AND ZEBRAS, 321 



limited to the walk and trot, at which we should collect 

 him sharply, and at the same time press him forward 

 with the legs, while holding the hands high. While riding 

 this horse at a trot the rider should not rise in his stirrups ; 

 for if he does so, he cannot fail to more or less disturb the 

 balance of the animal's body. The use of heavy shoes 

 will increase the knee action. In driving him, the principle 

 of collecting him with whip and hand and keeping up his 

 head should be observed. 



The shooting pony. — Having thoroughly broken the 

 shooting pony according to the principles already discussed, 

 we may make him steady to the gun by the rope-twitch 

 and the word "steady" (see page 129). A turn at the 

 head and tail method (see page 169) might be used as a 

 preliminary to the education by the rope-twitch. It may 

 be well to teach the animal to lie down (see page 161). 



Mules and Zebras.— These animals are so stiff in the 

 neck that there is great difficulty in giving them a good 

 mouth. Mules, as a rule, are timid animals which take 

 time to make up their minds to do anything unusual, and 

 are consequently apt to be misunderstood by men who 

 treat them as if they were high-couraged and impulsive 

 horses. Mules, I have found, possess more affection than 

 horses for those who are kind and sympathetic to them. 

 Many of them are fine natural jumpers, and show particular 

 care to avoid " chancing " their fences. I don't think that 

 mules are harder to make quiet than horses. Of all asses, 

 the mountain zebra (see Fig, 122) is the most difficult to 



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