144^ STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



because the former, from habit, are more collected in 

 moments of danger than the latter. 



Thus far of schoohng. Any green field that is not too 

 hard forms an excellent practice-ground ; and should it be 

 varied by what is termed in the Midland counties " ridge 

 and furrow," it will additionally improve the general 

 activity of the pupil, his action, and the use he makes of 

 his shoulders. Cantering him continually in small circles, 

 and, as he is meant for a lady, chiefly to the right, will 

 teach him to lead with his off leg, and v/ill bring his head 

 into the right place, and his weight upon his haunches, 

 better than any other discipline we can adopt. Observe 

 that no horse can have a good mouth unless he has 

 powerful and well-shaped quarters ; also, that his lightness 

 in hand is in most cases pretty exactly proportioned to his 

 strength behind the saddle. The hardest puller of all is the 

 brute^that pulls from weakness ; if you could stop him, he 

 cannot stop himself ; and, having given you half his weight 

 to carry in your arms all day, it is lucky if he does not 

 finish by putting the whole of it on your neck and shoulders 

 in one of those complicated somersaults that a bad one is so 

 expert in making. 



CHAPTER X 



DRIVING. 



The harness horses here to be noticed are the gig, or 

 single-harness horse, usually adopted for light or two-wheel 

 work in donnet, tilbury, or dog-cart; the carriage, brougham, 

 or cab-horse, for a heavier and slower vehicle ; and ponies, 

 whose uses are as various as their form and stature. The 

 general gig-horse is too often merely the cast-off of the 

 hunting st'able, or even of the racing stud; the clumsy, 

 unsteady, or slow being put into harness. A well-bred 

 horse for the lance wood shafts is, however, too valuable 

 an animal to be thus slightingly considered. Others are 

 merely undersized carriage-horses with the Cleveland or 

 Clydesdale blood in them, and these, if got by well-bred or 

 thoroughbred sires, are useful and handsome animals. Of 

 the cab, brougham, or carriage-horse there are several 



