146 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



in a cross-country point-to-point race absolutely roll 

 and almost drop from sheer exhaustion, and their flesh 

 has been ripped open by the spurs. If a horse cannot 

 be made to race by fair means, such as a light whip, I 

 think he should be sold for slower work, if it necessitates 

 him being unmercifully punished by indiscreet use of the 

 spurs. I myself have never worn a pair of spurs while 

 riding ; I used to wear them when in the Army, but 

 never " rode " with them. I could always get enough fun 

 without using spurs. When this cruel practice has been 

 gone into, it will be time enough to interfere with 

 trainers of performing horses. 



After all, it would not do to cruelly spur or bleed a 

 horse if you required him to learn a trick. Kindness 

 and patience are the only means of gaining his attention 

 and confidence ; but to gallop a horse to death and rub 

 it in with spurs is absolutely the worst form of cruelty 

 displayed by men who profess to be horse-lovers. 



An accelerator is all very well when applied to a 

 motor-car — but not to flesh and blood. 



TO TEACH HIGH-SCHOOL GAITS 



The value of a saddle-horse can be greatly enhanced 

 if he is taught to change gait, or shown the way to do 

 the high-school trot. 



