Equine Education 69 



performance by reward and caress — not by word. 

 Punishment when inflicted must be sharp and severe, 

 — it is the truest kindness, — but the utmost care 

 must be taken that it is administered at the appro- 

 priate time and in the proper way, and the recipient 

 must be given every chance to understand the reason 

 for the act. Nine horses in ten are punished at the 

 wrong time. For instance, your horse shies at a 

 heap of dirt. Once past and straightened out, you 

 settle yourself again, arrange your robe, throw away 

 your cigar, reach for the whip, and proceed to 

 administer a thrashing, accompanied by sundr}' jerks 

 and yanks at a sensitive mouth. " I'll show him ! " 

 you reply to your protesting better half. 



And that's just what you are doing — showing 

 him that somehow dirt piles and a good licking are 

 synonymous, and that, to escape both, he had better 

 go over the fence when he meets the next one — 

 which he proceeds to do in pursuit of the lesson you 

 have taught him! Remember his one-ideaed mind. 

 If he shies again — or at all — firstly, have his eyes 

 examined ; secondly, familiarise him with the objects 



