FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



common, and thereby horses get used to it. The 

 whole country is now so thickly settled, and the 

 ordinary traffic along even remote country roads is 

 so variegated that horses encounter these machines 

 in their " salad days," and long before they come 

 to market. No horse ever fears the bicycle to- 

 day ; none will notice the " ought-not-to-be's " 

 to-morrow, although the intervening period of time 

 is trying to nerves and exasperating to tempers. 



Undoubtedly the manufacturers will provide 

 schools for equine education, and probably the 

 authorities will enact ordinances that horses must 

 attend them, for necessary evils must be combated 

 along sensible lines, and the machines have as 

 much right to the highways as the animals. Any 

 friend who owns one of these " contraptions " will 

 oblige with rehearsals. Let your horse, led 

 in hand, investigate it, smell it, touch it, gratify 

 all the senses, and thereby allay terror, while it is 

 standing still, then when moving at all speeds 

 and from all angles ; feed him in it if possible, 

 but simply keep at him until he is used to it, or 

 get rid of him. Carry a thick felt blind with 

 you when driving, and in narrow roads signal for 

 a halt, and blindfold your horse. He will not 

 move while the machine passes. Try him with 



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