92 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



for certain styles of performance, and it is the part 

 of the trainer to distinguish this quickly and cor- 

 rectly, and not to waste time over pupils which can 

 but prove failures; nor try to teach a horse to 

 waltz, etc., which cannot manage that, but could 

 prove adept at some of the other branches. Thor- 

 oughbred horses are generally worthless for these 

 purposes, — they are too headstrong, nervous, and 

 impatient. 



Some of the performances described here are 

 valuable acquisitions for any horse ; others are mere 

 tricks intended only to amuse. It should be borne in 

 m.ind that each feat learned makes further advance 

 more easily possible, and increases the general adapt- 

 ability. 



To teach a saddle-horse to stand still anywhere, if 

 the reins are thrown over his head, put a bridle on 

 him with a severe bit, turn him loose in a yard or 

 box stall, and leave the reins to trail. He will 

 step on them, throw up his head, hurt his mouth, and 

 finally get the idea that standing still when the reins 

 trail insures freedom from pain. 



