PULLING ON THE HALTER. 91 



Sensitive horses should not be teased in the stall, or 

 while cleaning, by pinching, pricking or whipping, to 

 "show off," as the term is. Gentlemen who own fine 

 horses should be very particular about this, and a man who 

 would in any way persist in such treatment, should be 

 kicked out the stable. 



PULLING ON THE HALTER. 



It is the disposition of the horse to persist in what he 

 learns, and this is remarkably so where the habit is one of 

 resistance to the restraint of the halter or bit. If the halter 

 strap is broken once or twice, there is a determined purpose 

 to pull loose at all hazards when hitched. This is some- 

 times only in the place the habit has been learned. Thus 

 a horse learns to pull loose in the stall — he will resist being 

 hitched in stall, but will submit to be hitched anywhere 

 else; or tl>e horse has learned to pull loose in the street 

 and resists there, but will submit and not pull in the stall. 

 This habit is taught either by being tied by the halter before 

 knowing or being taught to submit to being tied, or acci- 

 dentally breaking the tying strap. If from the first cause 

 the animal becomes frightened, pulls, and if successful in 

 breaking loose, the habit is established ; or the halter strap 

 is so weak that the least jerk upon it causes it to break, the 

 habit becomes fixed. 



Put on the war bridle, and trair* the horse about until he 

 will come to you readily. Now brii^g the part over the neck 

 forward to the ears, and pull more on a line with the body, 

 repeating until there is prompt obedience to the least pull 

 forward. Wind the cord once around a post, keeping the 

 end in the hand, so as to let it loose a little if necessary. 

 Excite the horse to pull a little, which he will soon fear to 

 do, as there is great pain induced by the purchase of the 

 war bridle in this way. Repeat until he will stand, and let 

 the whip or any other means of excitement be used, without 

 trying to pull. 



Should this fail, try the following method : 



Get a strong half-inch cord twenty-two feet in length; 

 put the center under the tail like a crouper; twist them a 

 few times as you bring them forward over the back; pass 

 forward on each sic'e of the body, knot them across the 



