TRAINING 



One of our chief difficulties lies in the fact that 

 we are seldom able to start training our own horses 

 young enough. For those in the happy position of 

 being able to breed and break their own horses the 

 problem is more than half solved. Those who buy 

 horses to sell again at the end of the season can 

 do very little. They must take what they find 

 and make the best of it. Old horses can be im- 

 proved enormously, with time and patience, but 

 the best results will be obtained if we can start 

 ourselves with young stock and work them up under 

 one continuous system. Results that will surprise 

 us, because the intelligence of the horse is much 

 greater than many people suppose, and with kind 

 treatment it is astonishing to what a standard he 

 can be trained. I do not believe in the whip, or 

 any form of punishment whatsoever. The riding 

 whip or bit of stick is extremely useful to touch 

 a horse with on the shoulder, but as a means of 

 punishment it is an anathema. Jumping should 

 be made a treat, to which your horses should look 

 forward, and it is only badly trained horses that ever 

 refuse. Consequently it is superfluous to say that 

 under no circumstances should a horse be touched 

 in the mouth when jumping, and if the spur has to 



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