The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



" gallop " — ^he will very soon recognise what 

 is meant by each word. Decrease his pace 

 in the same way. In a little while you can 

 dodge him about, from the " walk " to the 

 " canter," then back to the " trot " ; then 

 direct to the " gallop," and back to the " walk," 

 and so on. When you want him to stand still, 

 say " stand," and when you want him to back, 

 say " back." It will surprise you to find 

 what an interest the horse takes in these spoken 

 directions, and how keen he becomes to con- 

 form to them quickly. It is as good as a play 

 to watch his ears, and by watching them 

 closely you will get a good indication of what 

 is passing in his mind and what he is expecting 

 of you. When you get more advanced with 

 his training and are teaching him to turn, say 

 to him " Right " or '* Left." Alter his gaits 

 by word, when you come to attend to them, 

 "Trot," "Pace," "Single-step," " Spanish Walk," 

 " Passage," and so on. When you want him 

 to jump anything say " Jump." You will 

 delight him by talking to him like this, and 

 his pleasure in it will be evidenced by the 

 increasing quickness of his responses. It 

 develops his intelligence, and, by and by, it 

 reaUy becomes conversation. One of the most 

 amusing things you can do is to teach a horse 

 to " neigh " to order. It is not so difficult 

 as you may think, particularly if the horse is a 

 stalUon, and an Arab. When it once dawns 



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