352 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



until he has seen closely the object of his fear. After 

 he has been a few times thus treated, he will soon 

 learn to pass with indifference any object which he 

 may meet. 



We cannot better define the folly of beating a 

 horse for shying than by the following, which we 

 extract from '' The Veterinarian " : — *' We will suppose 

 a case, an every-day one. A man is riding a young 

 horse upon the high-road in the country, and meets 

 a stage-coach. What with the noise, the bustle, the 

 imposing appearance altogether, and the slashing of 

 the coachman's whip, the animal at the approach 

 erects his head and crest, pricks his ears, looks 

 affrighted, and no sooner comes alongside of the 

 machine than he suddenly starts out of the road. 

 His rider, annoyed by this, instantly commences a 

 round of castigations with whip, spur, and curb, in 

 which he persists until the horse, as well as himself, 

 has lost his temper, and then one whips, spurs, and 

 pulls, and the other jumps, plunges, and frets, and 

 throws up his head, until both, pretty well exhausted 

 by the conflict, grow tranquil again, and proceed on 

 their journey, though not for some time afterwards, 

 in their former mutual confidence and satisfaction. 

 Should they on their road, or even on a distant day, 

 meet with another coach, what is the consequence ? 

 That the horse is not only more alarmed than before, 

 but now, the moment he has started, being conscious 

 of his fault, and expecting chastisement, he jumps 

 about in fearful agitation, making plunges to strike 

 into a gallop, and attempting to run away. So that 

 by this correction, instead of rendering his horse 

 tranquil during the passage of a coach, the rider 

 adds to the evil of shying that of subsequently 

 plunging, and perhaps running away." 



