52 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



practice possible is to lead him up to a familiar door 

 or gate, which swings tozuard him; get him too 

 near it for it to open until he moves backward, and, 

 as you pull it to him, press back upon the halter, 

 and say " Back ! " clearly and firmly, but do not 

 shout. He ?niist move back, and he does; he sees 

 the reason for the retrograde movement, and he asso- 

 ciates the act with the word. Do this now every 

 time he passes the gate — several times at each pas- 

 sage, and in a day or two you may take up the 

 practice as you lead him about, but always standing 

 in front of him, making sure that he is standing 

 square and in position to comply ; accompanying the 

 word with quick pressure on the halter, and, when 

 he obeys, never forcing him back more than a few 

 steps before advancing again. Toward the last, 

 arrange cords on his breeching, and pull against 

 these as he backs, so that he may get the idea of 

 bracing himself against weight. Show him at every 

 step the reason for the act, and associate its prompt 

 compliance with caress. The reins, hitherto buckled 

 in the head collar, may now be transferred to a large 



