\22 \LLU8TRATED STOCK DOCTOK. 



in increasing the gait. Thus by care and practice almost any horse can 

 be gotten up to four miles an hour and a really active cue to five. 



In breaking to walk fast to the wagon, there should be just sufficient 

 bearing on the reins to steady the horse. The check-rein should be quite 

 loose, for no horse can walk fast and easily with his head gagged back in 

 an viiiiatural position. The horse, however, should be first trained to 

 walk fast under the saddle, and by the means we have indicated. Then, 

 when harnessed, he will not forget the lessons given, and may even be 

 improved in his walk, if not already brought up to his maximum speed. 



A naturally slow walking horse may be made to walk much faster ; a 

 fast walking horse may be greatly improved in his gait, but a lazy, slow 

 dolt will never pay for any education beyond that of honestly pulling 

 such a load as he may be able to comfortably move. For the saddle he 

 is a nuisance, and no attempts whatever, should be made to bring him 

 out as a riding horse. If a good one, however, bring out his walking 

 powers. Like the trotter, he will improve until he is eight or ten 

 years old. 



How TO Train to Trot. — ^Every farmer's boy thinks he knows how to 

 drive a trotting horse to a wagon. Very few really do. iStill fewer un- 

 derstand-how to trot a horse under the saddle. If properly performed it 

 is the least exhausting to the horse within the limit of his natural speed, 

 and need not be unpleasant to the rider. That it is among the best and 

 most pleasant exercise the horseman can take is without doubt. 



Certain drivers have denied that the trot and the pace were natural to 

 the horse. Every person who has been among the wild horses of the 

 plains knows the contrary. It is a fact, however, that the trot is but a 

 modification of the walk. There are two styles of motion for the rider ; 

 one the rising motion, by which the rider eases himself in the stirrups- 

 Hot ungraceful when properly performed — the other where the rider 

 keeps a close seat, supporting himself by the knees and stirrups. The 

 elbows should be kept rather close to the side, and with only just enough 

 bearing on the curb and snaflle to keep the horse's head correct and the 

 animal under perfect command. In fact, under no circumstances is the 

 rein and bit for any other use but to guide and steady the horse. The 

 rider maintains his equilibrium, keeps his seat, and renders himself en- 

 tirely at home in the saddle, through the science of equitation and the 

 proper pressure of the limbs against the saddle. Until this is thoroughly 

 accomplished, no i)erson has any business trying to train a horse to sad- 

 dle gaits. The rider must train himself first. 



In the trot, when the rider rises in the stirrups, the snaffle-rein only 

 •hould be used, a rein in each hand, and once grasped and properly ar- 

 ranged, the arms must be held rather close to the body, but without 



