How to Render Horses Obedient, 205 



manner, and a good understanding is soon established 

 between them. 



And this, be it remarked, is a method seldom prac- 

 ticed by school-riders or in military establishments, the 

 consequence of which is, that the young horse, when 

 trained ever so comj^letely in the riding-school, has to 

 undergo a new course of instruction when it becomes 

 necessary to take it out on the roads and streets, and 

 frequently gets into messes that undo almost all that 

 had been previously done. 



Here, too, we find a practical hint for the treatment 

 of full-grown horses that shy at particular objects and 

 sounds, or object to passing certain spots. Treat them 

 as the English trainer does his young ones : lead them 

 about as described above, and reward them for their 

 docility with a bit of bread, sugar or something of the 

 sort ; you will thus avoid all conflicts, the danger and 

 evil consequences of which are enhanced a thousand- 

 fold if you attempt to mount your horse under such 

 circumstances. Of course, when shyness arises from 

 defective vision, which is often the case, this method 

 will be of no avail. 



But to continue : After a day or two the trainer puts 

 a saddle on the horse and the surcingle over it, and 

 will then soon proceed to lounge it, which he generally 

 does single-handed, a point to be borne in mind. For 

 general purposes he will endeavor, by gentle means, to 

 get the young horse to settle down into a trot as soon 

 as possible,* and in proportion as the animal takes 

 kindly to trotting, his trainer will shorten the snaffle- 

 reins somewhat, so as to encourage the animal to lean 

 more and more on the bit, taking care, however, not to 

 make them so short as to prevent the horse stretching 

 itself well out, and bringing the propelling action of the 



* The trainer of race-horses does not wish this, of course. 

 18 



