76 THE FOOT-STRAP. 



courage and bottom, you have frequently a horse that re- 

 quires very careful, thorough treatment. If of a nervous- 

 sanguine temperament, something like No. 78 or 79 on 

 pages 74-75, take a thorough course : subject rapidly to first, 

 second, and third methods ; either perhaps would do ; the 

 third, or passive treatment would, in most cases, without 

 trouble, but the point is to make as profound an impres- 

 sion and as sure one as you can without giving any chance 

 for pull-backs. Stop all inclination to kick before you 

 attempt to harness and drive. Usually there will be a 

 struggle to fight you back when you attempt this, but you 

 must be ready to force this point at all hazards, if neces- 

 sary going back again to give .your subjective course ; but 

 remember you cannot very well repeat passive treatment, as 

 the mouth will be usually so sore as not to admit of it. Do 

 all you can with the first and second. If, in driving, the 

 horse sulks, and will not go ahead against the bit, which is 

 frequently the case, put on the double draw-hitch, and fol- 

 low up with single hitch ahead, as for a double balker, 

 until you make the point easily. You may now in some 

 cases use the foot-strap, though I do not find it necessary, 

 holding your point of forcing to yield to the shafts strik- 

 ing the quarters \ making this point, hold it at all hazards. 

 When the horse will get cool, he will work decidedly 

 better ; work carefully ; make all you can by kindness. 

 The moment a horse yields to me, I treat him with the 

 greatest kindness, rewarding him with presents of some- 

 thing of which he is fond. If the tail is the sensitive 

 part, then put a large crupper under it, as given in another 

 part of this chapter. If a horse that drives all right, but 

 at times is liable to kick, most cases will submit easily to 

 either form of overdraw-check. Do not, if you can pos- 

 sibly avoid it, handle horses in the presence of specta- 

 tors : get them out of the way at all hazards. A sensi- 

 tive woman should on no account be anywhere near you : 

 nothing will touch their feelings so keenly as seeming 

 abuse to a horse. Do not let any one see you, if in your 

 power to prevent it, until your success is sure. Treat the 

 horse now with great kindness ; clean and feed him, but 

 keep to work, testing and holding your point until cool ; 

 then your .success will be surprising and most gratifying 



