232 Avery's own farrier. 



or another horse, by first leading him to his place, and, 

 at the same time, telling him in plain words, as right or 

 left, what to do, and he soon becomes so familiar with 

 the words that he is ready to obey them. Afterwards 

 his eye will tell him to do what his ear learned him be- 

 fore. In the same manner the ring master is enabled to 

 change the routine of performance in the ring by the 

 use of words, which is no new thing in the nature of the 

 horse if men have just learned that he is capable of dis- 

 tinguishing sounds. Consequently we see the necessity 

 of educating the horse with a knowledge of his nature, 

 for he can not in truth be said to be thoroughly broken 

 until he is broken on both sides. 



BLINDERS, OR BLINKERS, 



As a general thing, I think had better be dispensed 

 with, though there are some arguments in favor of their 

 use, as well as against them. They may afford some 

 protection to the eye when a horse is driven in severe 

 storms, for when he is at liberty he is always seen to 

 shield the eye from the pelting storms, by turning his 

 rump in that direction from which it beats the hardest; 

 and when the rays of a hot sun are too oppressive for the 

 eye, he is frequently seen to hold the head in the shade 

 of his own body. And then a very lazy horse, or one of 

 poor memory, is generally freer to go and mind when 

 driven with blinders on, than he is without. For this 

 reason he is more apt to be afraid of the word and whip, 

 which is prejudicial to the better horse. The noble 

 spirited and well educated horse should have the free use 

 of the eye; and he will not unfrequently shun dangers 



