344 DOMESTIC ANIMALS 
pull up a hill so that he fails, the very sight of a hill the next 
time he has a load may suggest to him that he ought to balk, 
and after he has balked a few times he will remember it many 
years. For the same reason a single runaway may be remem- 
bered all his life and spoil the horse. 
Words of command and other signals should be very few in 
number and should always mean the same thing and be obeyed 
in the same way. For example, the horse usually starts when 
we get into the wagon, and if we allow him to do so without 
the spoken word, he will at once think that getting into the 
wagon is the signal to start, and he will try to obey that 
signal the next time. The word of command for stopping is 
whoa, but when a horse starts contrary to the driver’s wish, 
he is often told to back! or whoa-back! Again, when that 
same horse goes too fast, his driver may tell him to whoa, 
when he should say steady. Such a horse is necessarily con- 
fused in regard to the real meaning of these commands, and, 
of course, cannot obey them. 
Some drivers try to cure the results of such training methods 
by abusive language or harsh punishment. We have always 
noticed that good horsemen have well-trained horses, and 
that their motto is kindness and patience. We commend the 
reading of Black Beauty to all who may have occasion to 
manage horses. It is not only very interesting but it contains 
a large amount of horse sense. 
QUESTIONS AND PROJECTS 
1. Breeds. — What breeds of horses are found in your vicinity? 
Which of them are light horses and which belong to the draft type? 
What special merits do the owners claim for their breeds? Try to get 
so well acquainted with all the breeds found in your district that you 
can tell to which a horse belongs when you see it. Are there any pure- 
bred horses? If so, study them especially. Do you find that many of 
