Horses and Horsemastership. 9^ 



and what would in other hands have ended in a mad 

 gallop, and perhaps a bad mishap, becomes instead a 

 pleasant outing. However, we have to consider what is 

 best to be done when a horse really gets out of hand- 

 i.e., when his rider has failed to check the intention to 

 bolt. 



The first and most important thing is to keep control 

 of yourself, for if you, too, lose your head, in a figurative 

 sense, you are much more likely to lose your life ^n 

 reality, or at least to get badly " crocked." The next 

 thinor is, of course, to endeavour to brinsf vour horse to 

 a standstill, and it depends on the room you have what 

 is the best way to proceed. If the animal goes off in 

 a large, open space, get him on a wide circle, to the most 

 convenient hand, and gradually diminish it until he has 

 had enough and desists of his own accord, when, if you, 

 too, have had as much riding as you require for the day, 

 you can go home quietly ; otherwise another fast gallop, 

 at your dictation, will probably give the horse something 

 to consider should he contemplate bolting with you 

 again. But suppose the venue is in a dangerous country, 

 where there are numerous trees, a quarry, or similar 

 risks of coming to grief to be considered, ail your efforts 

 must be concentrated on stopping the animal as quickly 

 as possible. Tliere is absolutely no good in a long, dead 

 pull on the reins. The harder you pull, the faster a 



