HANDLING AND BREAKING. 231 



most horses give up these tricks entirely 

 after being ridden regularly for a little while. 

 There is sometimes at first great difficulty 

 in getting a young horse to go through water. 

 This arises chiefly from timidity and dread 

 of the unstable element, which the animal 

 sees will not support his Aveight. It is 

 generally to be overcome by a little tact 

 and patience. One man I knew, after re- 

 peated trials and a vast exercise of this 

 latter quality, actually attached a carthorse in 

 trace harness, and dragged the refuser through 

 a ford, thinking that having once been 

 through it he would go again ; but I believe 

 this heroic measure did not have the desired 

 effect. One colt I have lately been break- 

 ing, which would at first make a fuss about 

 crossing a six-inch runnel across a road, 

 will now splash through anywhere ; but it 

 took quite six months to overcome his 

 repugnance to water. There are seasoned 

 hunters too who will jump anything they are 



