374 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



cause him fright. In order to do this we should make a 

 careful study of the factors that govern the movements 

 of the animal. If we touch the hindquarters, he moves 

 forward, and if we touch the forequarters he moves back- 

 ward. If a horse gets his fore foot over an obstruction of 

 any kind and feels the pressure on the foot or leg, he 

 moves backward until he frees himself, even though he 



injures himself in doing so, 

 whereas he could very 

 easily step over the ob- 

 struction by a forward 

 movement. If the hind 

 foot is fast he moves for- 

 ward in a similar manner. 

 Thus it is that pressure in 

 front stimulates a back- 

 ward movement, while 

 pressure behind stimulates 

 a forward movement. This 

 is an important observa- 

 tion and perhaps the gov- 

 erning principle in all horse 

 training, and should always 

 be kept in mind when 

 handling horses. 

 In catching a foal, gently place one arm under the neck 

 and the other under the hams. If he attempts to go for- 

 ward, apply pressure at the neck, or if he attempts to go 

 backward, apply the pressure at the hams. If it is de- 

 sired to have him step forward, relieve the pressure at 

 the neck and apply it at the hams, or if it is desired to 

 have the foal step backward, relieve the pressure at the 

 hams and apply it at the neck. The young foal that is 

 caught in this manner will soon become quiet, when he 

 should be caressed. (Fig. i66.) 



Secure the foal's confidence. — Young foals are naturally 

 very timid and when caught should be handled very 



Fig. 166. — Catching the Foal 



