EXCITING OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING. 61 



If used, they should not come too near the eyes. If the 

 horse will drive better by concealing the wagon, let them 

 be wide enough, or far enough above the eyes, to prevent 

 seeing over them. 



OBJECTS EXCITING FEAR WHILE RIDING OR 

 DRIVING. 



Should the horse show fear of a stone or stump, or 

 any thing of the kind, he will naturally stop, and stare at 

 the object in an excited manner. Should the cause of 

 fear be great and sudden, he may attempt to turn round 

 and run away. This is to be guarded against, by sitting 

 well forward on the seat, and taking a short hold of the 

 reips, at the same time speaking calmly and encouragingly 

 to the horse. 



Speak encouragingly to the horse, but keep a close 

 watch upon his actions. In a short time his alarm will be 

 lessened. Then drive nearer, as he will bear, exercising 

 the same patience and care. At each step nearer, the 

 horse will show renewed fear. Keep pushing, a little at a 

 time, as the horse will bear, until you can drive up to the 

 object, or by it, and you not only leave no bad impression 

 upon the mind, but gradually overcome the disposition to 

 become frightened. 



Sometimes a horse will dislike a wheelbarrow, baby- 

 wagon, turkeys, &c. but the treatment is the same. When 

 the excitement is not so great as to endanger successful 

 resistance, and the horse is disposed to "play off, or 

 soldier," it may be advisable to apply the whip a little 

 sharply, but this is to be avoided when it is seen the 

 resistance is wholly caused by fear, and is not from laziness. 



Some horses, while driven to carriages, will not bear the 

 noise and excitement of other horses being driven up 

 behind. This is principally on account of the horse's ina- 

 bility to see and understand the cause of the excitement, 

 or it may be owing to the fault of the driver. Some one 

 drives up rapidly behind, perhaps wishes to " go by," 

 and then the colt is hallooed at and whipped up to 

 prevent such a result. This may be repeated a few times ; 

 and the consequence is, if a spirited horse, the habit is 

 learned of rushing ahead to avoid the punishment expected 



