FEAR OF EOBE. 129 



Hence the great danger and imprudence of using such horses 

 for single carriage driving. 



A ROBE. 



The sight of a buffalo robe will sometimes excite great 

 fear in a horse. In ordinary cases the fear of it can be 

 easily overcome as follows : While holding the horse by a 

 halter, or War Bridle, which would be better, stand on the 

 off side of the head, and bring the robe up to the right 

 side, so that he can see and smell of it. If this is borne, 

 with a quick jerk-like movement swing it over the head, 

 covering it completely, and go around with him, keeping 

 on either side of the head until he will stop and stand 

 quietly. The first movement determines the success or 

 failure of the experiment. The point is to get it over the 

 head so quickly that the horse cannot see the movement, 

 when the terror of it will almost immediately subside. 

 Then draw it backward and forward, finally pulling it off 

 and throwing it on, and so repeat until it can be thrown 

 over the body or around the horse in any manner. 



If there is failure by this method, which is something 

 of a sleight, take the following course : First, get good con- 

 trol with the War Bridle. Next, while holding the horse 

 firmly with one hand, with the other bring the robe gently 

 to his nose, letting him smell and feel of it, when, gradually, 

 as he will bear, bring it up over the head, neck, and body ; 

 then stand off a little way, and throw it upon him, and re- 

 peat until it can be thrown upon him at a distance of eight 

 or ten feet without exciting fear. Both sides must be 

 treated alike. 



No matter what is done, the treatment must always 

 commence at the nose and head, and gradually work back, 

 as before explained. To overcome all fear of the robe, it 

 may be necessary to repeat the lesson several times. If 



