TURNING AROUND. 73 



T^ork slow. Let the horse move on a slow walk at first. 

 Call whoa sharply and instantly after surge with the quick- 

 ness and energy of the crack of a whip, with the reins upon 

 the mouth; repeating and increasing the speed of the ani- 

 mal as there is submission, making one point after another, 

 until the animal can be put on a run and will stop instantly 

 at command. Even then you are not to feel too sure of 

 having accomplished your purpose. Test carefully when 

 cool, and assure yourself of the most perfect submission and 

 docility before incurring any risk. This is really the 

 important point in assuring of success, not only in the 

 breaking of horses of this character but in all others of a 

 bad character. Some horses subject to this habit will yield 

 readily to the use of the four ring bit. The foot-strap is 

 also a valuable auxiliary, but the breaking bit is in advance 

 of anything else in doing this. 



TURNING AROUND. 



If the horse turns around, drive first with harness, whip 

 up sharply, then make him stop, always pulling in the 

 opposite direction from that the horse usually turns, until 

 there is not only the most prompt obedience to the com- 

 mands in going ahead, but ready submission to control, 

 right or left, or in stopping, as may be required. Some- 

 times the habit is contracted of pulling so hard on the bit 

 as to resist control. In this case all that is necessary to do 

 is to train the mouth once or twice with breaking bit, or 

 use the four ring bit, and the habit will be broken up. If 

 one rein is pulled upon, pull sharply on the opposite rein, 

 and repeating at each indication of such a purpose until the 

 head is yielded freely and evenly. 



In reviewing the common causes of this habit, we see 

 that two objects must govern the efforts. First : To over- 

 come or neutralize the exciting cause of resistance — usually 

 some cause of fear. Second : To make the mouth perfectly 

 submissive to the most delicate restraint of the bit ; it being 

 essential that the exciting cause should be removed, while 

 the power to control resistance must be increased. 



I will in this connection add, that there is no part of the 

 training of horses which should be done more thoroughly, 

 or tested moi^ carefully, than this of teaching proper 



