22 HOW TO USE A HORSE. 



the spur is applied to make him bring 

 certain forces into action, and when used 

 with discretion he will respond to it ; but 

 unnecessary strokes with the spur will 

 rouse his resentment, and he will stub- 

 bornly refuse to obey its indications. It 

 serves no good purpose to irritate a 

 horse, as he will never yield while angry. 

 A contest between horse and rider should 

 always be avoided, for, in addition to the 

 chances that the former will prove the 

 victor, a high-spirited animal may be 

 made incurably vicious, when by milder 

 treatment he could be subdued without 

 endangering his usefulness. A rebuke 

 in a harsh tone of voice will generally 

 suffice to correct a horse, and he will not 

 know how to resent it. The best way 

 to control the horse is through firmness 



