56 SOOTHINGS, ANIMATIONS, &c. 



There is scarcely any difference between soothings 

 and encouragements ; except that, in the latter, it is 

 advisable to pat, and, as it were, caress the horse with 

 the right hand, holding the whip in the left. A shy or 

 timid horse may often be encouraged to pass an object 

 that alarms him, to cross a bridge, enter a gateway, or 

 take a leap, when force and correction would only 

 add to his fear, and, perhaps, render him incorrigibly 

 obstinate. 



Animations are intended to produce greater speed, 

 or, to render the horse more lively and on the alert, 

 without increasing his pace. Some animals scarcely 

 ever require animations; while others are so dull and 

 deficient in mettle as to call them frequently into use. 

 The slightest movement of the body, the hand, or the 

 leg, is enough to rouse the well-bred and thoroughly- 

 trained animal ; but it is necessary for the animations 

 to be so spirited and united, with sluggish horses, as 

 almost to become corrections : in fact, what is a mere 

 animation to one horse, would be a positive correction 

 to another. 



The aids of the hand, the whip, the leg, and the 

 body, which we have before described, are animations j 

 so, also, are pattings with the hand, the tones of the 

 voice, &c. Animations should be used in all cases, 

 when the horse, contrary to the rider's inclination, 

 either decreases his speed, droops his head, bears heavily 

 and languidly on the bit, or, begins to be lazy or slovenly 



