216 MODERN FAllRTEH. 



spurs, firmly applied, be obliged to go forwards, and 

 their heads kept up high. But if they do it flying- 

 forwards, keep them back, and ride them gently 

 and very slow for a good while together. Of all 

 bad tempers and qualities m horses, those which 

 are occasioned by harsh treatment and ignorant 

 riders are worst. 



Starting often proceeds from a defect in the sight, 

 which therefore must be carefully looked into. — 

 A¥hatever the horse is afraid of, bring him up to it 

 gently ; if you caress him every step he advances, 

 he will go quite#up to it by degrees, and soon grow 

 familiar with all sorts of objects. Nothing but great 

 gentleness can correct this fault ; for if you inflict 

 punishment, the apprehension of chastisement be- 

 comes prevalent, and causes more starting than the 

 fear of the object. If you let him go by the object, 

 without bringing him up to it, you increase the 

 fault, and confiriii him in his fear ; the consequence 

 of which is, he takes his rider perhaps a quite con- 

 trary way from what he was going, becomes his 

 master, and puts himself and the person upon him 

 every moment in great danger. 



Before closing this subject, it is necessary to no- 

 tice the different paces of horses, and which consist 

 of the walk, the trot, the canter, and the gallop. 

 There are, besides, the amble, the running trot, and 

 the airs of the riding-house ; but these paces are not 

 natural. 



116. The Walk, 



Few horses can walk well, however easy this pace 

 may appear to be. It is essential to the performance 

 of a good walk, that the fore-legs stand pei-pendicu- 

 lar and well advanced before the shoulders, that the 

 hind-legs accord with their position, that the back 

 be short, and tlie haunches and thighs strong and 

 muscukr. A late writer on this subject expresses 

 himself thus : — 



