THROWING- OVER BACKWARD. 115 



to break him, he acquired the habit so badly of throwing 

 himself down that it was impossible to drive him in harness. 

 He resisted every effort to break him, consequently, when 

 six years old he was sold for $50. He was brought in 

 without my being informed as to his true character, for the 

 purpose of breaking me down. He yielded readily, how- 

 ever, to the Second and Third Methods, driving anywhere 

 as gentle as desired. The other, eight years old, had re- 

 sisted every effort to be broken, and had the habit so badly 

 that whenever the reins, or even the halter, were pulled 

 upon a little while leading, he would throw himself down. 

 A horse-breaker, who took the job of breaking him for $25, 

 joined my class at Eiyria, Ohio, and brought him in to be 

 experimented upon. In a chance way, when taking him 

 by the halter to look him over, I happened to pull a little 

 to make him follow, when instantly he threw himself over 

 backward. The man thought it a good joke, and laughed, 

 saying, " He is a good one. If you can keep him on his 

 feet while driving, you will break the worst horse that ever 

 lived. I can't break him, and I don't know of any one who 

 can, so I brought him in for you to try your hand upon." 

 I put the harness on the horse carefully, all ready to 

 drive, tied up the reins so I could take them down quickly, 

 and subjected him sharply to the Second Method. When 

 he became so dizzy as to be at the point of falling, I quickly 

 pulled the halter-strap loose, grasped the reins, and gave 

 him a cut or two with the whip across the hind legs, at the 

 same time yelling " Get up !" to frighten him ahead. He 

 jumped before he knew what he was at, and after a few 

 moments' pushing in this way he could be driven without 

 showing any inclination to repeat the habit. The lesson, 

 though requiring but a few minutes, proved effectual. 

 Occasionally horses of this character may bother consider- 

 ably. Such are usually of a cold-blooded, sullen nature, 



