30 THB HORSE. 



you must uot be rash in lifting the leg, and employ but little, 

 force in doing so. It is better to wait until he lifts it wilUngly by 

 the use of gentle means. Do not get out of temper if you have to make 

 a dozen ineffectual attempts to raise it. The near fore-leg being se- 

 curely strapped, and the horse, secured from biting, if necessary, with 

 the wooden bit, you will then make him hop about, as before stated. 

 This he will learn to do easily. The trainer, must however, take care to 

 keep behind his horse's shoulder and walk in a circle, or he will be like- 

 ly to be struck by the animal's head or strapped up leg. 



A horse can hop on three legs for two or three miles, if you give him 

 his own time, and no plan has ever been tried that has been equal to 

 this for curing a balky horse. After you have tired him out pretty well 

 in this manner, you proceed to make him lie down, which process re- 

 quires considerable patience and skill. For this purpose take a longer 

 strap, and making a loop with it put it round the off fore-leg. With a 

 very quiet horse this can be easily done ; with a wild or vicious horse 

 you may have to make him step into it ; at any rate, when once the off- 

 fore-leg is caught in the noose it must be drawn tight round the pas- 

 tern-joint. Then put a stout glove on your right hand, pass the strap 

 through the belly part of the surcingle, take a firm hold of it with your 

 gloved right hand, standing close to the horse behind his shoulders, and 

 with your left hand take hold of the near rein ; by pulling the horse 

 gently to the near side he will be almost sure to hop ; if he will not, he 

 must be led. The moment he lifts up his left off fore-foot, you must 

 draw up the strap tightly and steadily. The horse will then go down 

 on his knees, because if you hold the strap tight he will not be able to 

 stretch out his feet again. As soon as a horse recovers from his as- 

 tonishment at being brought to his knees, he begins to resist ; that is he 

 rears up on his hind legs, and springs about in a manner that will some- 

 times alarm the trainer. During these struggles you must not try your 

 strength against the horse's strength, but merely follow him about, hold- 

 ing the strap just tight enough to prevent him from putting out his fore- 

 leg. As long as you keep close To him, and behind his shoulders, 

 you are in very little danger. The bridle in the left hand must be used 

 like steering lines, by pulling to the right or left as occasion requires ; 

 the horse, turning on his hind legs, may be fatigued by being forced to 

 walk backwards. The strap passing through the surcingle keeps, or 

 ought to keep, the trainer in his right place ; he is not to pull or in any- 

 way fatigue himself any more than he can help, but, standing upright, 



