382 SHYING. 



and what results from fear, or newness of objects, or mere affeo- 

 tation or skittishness. For the first, the nature of which we have 

 explained at page 66, every allowance must be made, and care 

 must be taken that the fear of correction is not associated with the 

 imagined existence of some terrifying object. The severe use of 

 the whip and the spur cannot do good here, and are likely to ag- 

 gravate the vice ten-fold. A word half encouraging and half 

 scolding, with a slight pressure of the heel, or a slight touch of 

 the spur, will tell the horse that there w^as nothing to fear, and 

 will give him confidence in his rider on a future occasion. 



The shying from skittishness or affectation is quite a different 

 affair, and must be conquered : but how ? Severity is altogether 

 out of place. If he is forced into contact with the object by dint 

 of correction, the dread of punishment will afterwards be associ- 

 a,ted with that object, and, on the next occasion, his startings will 

 be more frequent and more dangerous. The way to cure him is 

 to go on, turning as little as possible out of the road, giving a 

 harsh word or two, and a gentle touch with the spur, and then 

 taking no more notice of the matter. After a few times, what- 

 ever may have been the object which he chose to select as the 

 pretended cause of affright, he will pass it almost without notice. 



In page 243, under the head "breaking in," we described how 

 the colt may be cured of the habit of shying from fear or newness 

 of objects ; and, if he then is accustomed as much as possible to 

 the objects among which his services w^ill be required, he will not 

 possess this annoying vice when he grows to maturer age. 



It is now generally admitted by all riding-masters and colt- 

 breakers, that a great deal more is to be effected by lenient than 

 by harsh treatment. Rewards are found to operate more lienefi- 

 cially than punishments ; and therefore the most scientific and 

 practised riding-masters adopt methods based upon the former. 



Let us not be understood to mean that the animal is to receive 

 any encouragement to shy ; for by no other expression can be 

 characterized that erroneous and foolish practice of patting the 

 horse, or "making much of him," either just before or during the 

 time he evinces shyness. The former is bad, because it draws the 

 attention of the animal to the object he dreads ; the latter if 

 worse, because it fills him with the impression either that the ob- 

 ject itself is really terrific, or that he has acted right in shying at 

 it, and ought to do so again. 



Whether we are approaching the frightful object, or the horse 

 is actually shying, " we should let him alone" — " we should take 

 no notice whatever of him" — neither letting him perceive that 

 we are aware that we are advancing towards anything he dis- 

 likes ; nor do more with him, while in the act of shying, than is 

 necessary for due restraint with a steady hand upon the rein. We 



