THE PULLING ROPE 73 



put a good halter or bridle on the horse, take a rope 

 twenty feet long, place one end over the horse's back, 

 draw it carefully under the stomach and tie it in a slip- 

 knot around the body just in front of the hind legs; 

 then bring the long end of the rope under the body and 

 through the front legs, up through the ring in the halter, 

 and tie the end securely to a strong post or tree. Now 

 make a noise in order to force the horse back in the rope. 

 When he runs back he will automatically jump forward, 

 and he will soon stop running back or breaking away 

 when tied up. 



This pulling rope is a wonderful cure for various 

 bad habits, which I will describe later. 



A lady friend of mine used to have a favourite pony, 

 but he would not be tied up in the stable. If he was 

 tied he would run back and break his head-collar ; and, 

 moreover, if he was tied to a gate in the street he would 

 run back and break his bridle. She called at my farm 

 once to see a mare and foal, but she insisted upon having 

 her pony unharnessed and placed in a loose-box before 

 she ventured away. It was then, when she explained 

 to me all about her pony's bad habits, that I told her I 

 would cure him ; but she doubted me very much — 

 especially as her groom had tied a rope round his neck 

 and to a tree, and nearly strangled the poor little chap. 



