126 FEAR ITS EFFECTS. 



JUMPING OUT OF THE SHAFTS. 



To make a colt entirely safe and reliable in shafts, he 

 should be thoroughly accustomed to objects striking against 

 his quarters or legs. It is not sufficient that he is accus- 

 tomed to being touched around the tail, or even flanks ; for 

 though brought to submit to this, there will be no assur- 

 ance of his being gentle should the shafts strike lower down 

 on his quarters or legs. In my practice I always make it 

 a point, even after the colt is proved gentle, while he is 

 standing between the shafts to pull them against the legs 

 both ways, letting them drop down sharply on the ground, 

 etc., until he is entirely indifferent to their noise or con- 

 tact. When a horse is not properly trained to this, if the 

 breeching is not unbuckled when he is unhitched, there 

 is danger of his becoming frightened from the breeching 

 pulling the shafts sideways against the legs, and bringing 

 its pressure upon another part. Under such circumstan- 

 ces a horse, if at all sensitive, is apt to become very much 

 frightened, kick, and jump around until loose, and is ever 

 afterward, the moment unhitched, ready to jump out of the 

 shafts. The habit, as a rule, is easy to overcome. Simply 

 accustom the quarters to be touched, and treat practically as 

 before explained. 



TOP CARRIAGE. 



A very little precaution in preventing excessive fear 

 will save a great deal of trouble. In no respect is this 

 more strongly illustrated than in the fear of a top carriage. 

 Because a horse drives gently to an open carriage, it is ta- 

 ken for granted he must know enough to drive to one with 

 a top, and hence the trouble. The horse should first be 

 driven around moderately, the driver carrying over his head 



