RESISTANCES OF THE HORSE. 73 



stroyed, after which the horse will ask no better than 

 to behave himself. 



If a horse fidgets and frets to get back to the 

 stable (which is a common and annoying trick), he 

 should be turned round and walked for a moment 

 or two in an opposite direction, away from home, 

 and in a fortnight he will have lost the bad habit. 



Horses often have a trick of fighting the hand by 

 running out their heads and trying to pull the reins 

 through the fingers of their riders. This comes from 

 stiffness in the hind quarters, and will stop as soon 

 as the horse has been taught, by progressive flexions, 

 to keep his hind legs under him. 



A timid horse may always be reassured and quieted 

 by a persevering rider, provided his sight is not bad ; 

 and he should never be punished for shying, as that 

 comes from fright ; he should be allowed time to get 

 used to the sight or sound of a terrifying object, and, 

 when he is convinced that it will not hurt him, he 

 will disregard it in future, as, although timid, he is 

 not a coward. For instance : if a horse shies at a 

 gnarled stump in a country lane, his rider should 

 stop and let him come slowly up to it, which he will 

 do with every appearance of fear. She should cheer 

 him with her voice, and caress him with her hand ; 

 and, when once he has come near enough to smell 

 the dreaded shape, he will give a contemptuous sniff, 

 and never notice it after. 



If a horse should fall with his rider, she should 

 at once slip her foot out of the stirrup, lift her right 



