THE HORSE 167 



the horse is aiwiiys under control in the case of a 

 sudden shy or stumble. With a loose rein he 

 may fall, or shy right across the road, before the 

 rein can be brought to a tension sufficient to 

 steady him. 



Kever whip or flick a horse going down-hill if 

 it can possibly be avoided, and never use the whip 

 unless the reins are held tightly. One of the 

 worst errors the amateur driver falls into is an 

 inability to keep the vrhip still. This is, of course, 

 fatal to the freeness of a colt ; and we have known 

 many old horses turned into inveterate plugs in 

 their old age solely through this fault on the part 

 of their driver. If a horse is being continually 

 flicked and touched with the whip-lash, he will, 

 in a remarkably short time, have become so 

 familiarized with it that he will fail to respond. 

 If the whip must be used to correct some fault or 

 to stimulate, it should be used sharply and de- 

 cisively — in other words, it should not be used at 

 all unless it is absolutely necessary. He will thus 

 always have a wholesome fear of the weapon, and 

 will never develop into a plug. A sluggish horse 

 may often be cured by a few thorough beatings, 

 which show him that his driver intends to put up 

 with no nonsense. Therefore, if a diiver cannot 



