266 TEACHING TRICKS. 



TO LIB DOWN. 



Tie the bridle reins into a knot back of the neck. Throw 

 your strap over the back, under the body, and tie to the 

 near foot, below the fetlock. Now pass the right har d well 

 over the back and take a short hold of the strap. Cause 

 the horse to step toward you and pull the foot up. Then 

 pass the left hand around the reins and pull back and down 

 upon them in such a manner as to turn the head a liltle to 

 the off-side, at the same time pulling down steadily but 

 firmly on the strap over the back with the right hand. As 

 the horse goes down, gradually pull the near rein, so as to 

 bring the head to the left, at the same time pressing down 

 and from you firmly with the right, until the horse will lie 

 down. Pass the end of the strap now through the ring of 

 the bit and draw through gently, step over the neck, and as 

 the horse attempts to get up, pull him back, until he lies 

 quiet. Rub and caress him, and after lying a few minutes, 

 say, "Get up, sir." Repeat in this way for a few times 

 until the horse will lie down readily. Then while holding 

 him on or near the knee with the strap, hit him on the skin 

 of the other with a little whip, until he will bring it under 

 and lie down. After awhile he can be made to come on 

 his knees and lie down by simply pulling the head down a 

 little and hitting the skins with the whip, at the same time 

 saying, " Lie down, sir," repeating until the horse will lie 

 down to the motion of the whip. This is about the easiest 

 and most practical way of teaching a horse to lie down. 



TO SIT DP. 



When the horse will lie down promptly, put on him a 

 common collar, and while being down take two pieces of 

 rope, or anything suitable, about ten feet each in length. 

 Tie the ends around the hind feet, carry them forward be- 

 tween the fore legs and bring them once around the collar. 



Now step on his tail, take the bridle reins in the right 

 hand, while you hold the ends of the ropes firmly in the 

 left. Give a little jerk on the reins and say, " Get up, sir." 

 When the horse throws out the forward feet and springs to 

 raise himself on the hind feet, he finds himself unable to 

 complete the effort, on account of the hind feet being tied 



