1 04 HIXTS TO HORSEMEN ; OR, 



and increasing the animal's fears tenfold. Eefu-sing, 

 and I speak from practical experience, from which- 

 ever of the two causes named it may arise, is, in 

 nine cases in ten, to be permanently and radically 

 cured by doing one very simple thing, that should 

 always, when possible, be done — namely, investigat- 

 ing the cause that produces the effect on the animal. 

 Having done this, our business is half accomplished. 

 The rogue, without brutalizing him, must be taught 

 that he is not to consult his own fancy in selecting 

 the few favourite fences he may choose to take, or 

 the occasions on which he pleases to take them ; and 

 here I venture a hint. I have seen men who, on 

 their horses refusing a fence, would, rather than lose 

 a run, take him to some other place, or get through a 

 gate ; this will absolutely establish the habit of re- 

 fusing on the part of the horse, and, as Pat says, 

 '' small blame to him," when he finds so pleasant a 

 result arise. If the fence was an improper one to 

 put the horse at, the rider was to blame in putting 

 his horse at it, more than the animal in refusing it 

 if it was one not calculated to impress a horse with 



