1 86 HORSES WITH VICES. 



as shadows, rays of the sun, puddles, streams, and heaps 

 of stones. They pay no heed to things which are above 

 them. 



There are also horses which are afraid only of things 

 which come behind them, such as children, dogs, horses, and 

 carriages. They seem afraid only of things which they do 

 not see. 



My only advice about the management of nervous horses 

 is to give them confidence by " making much of them." If 

 we see in front of us an object which we know our horse will 

 be afraid of, we should not force him to go up to it. Better 

 let him at first go away from it, and then gently induce him 

 to approach it, without bullying him too much. Work him in 

 this way for several days, as long as may be necessary. 

 Never bring him so close up to the object in question that 

 he will escape or spring round ; because in this case we will be 

 obliged to punish him ; not for his fear, but on account of his 

 spinning round, which we should not tolerate at any time. 

 In punishing him, we will confuse in his mind the fear of 

 punishment and the fear caused by the object. In a word, 

 with nervous horses we should use much gentleness, great 

 patience, and no violence. 



It now remains only to speak of horses which are wrongly 

 classed as nervous, which have all the appearance of fear, but 

 which are only vicious. 



All horses are very fond of their stable, and are more lively 

 and impetuous when they are returning to it than when 

 leaving it. Those of whom I speak seem to have only the 

 idea of returning to their stable, and of seeking every occa- 

 sion of making a move to the rear, in the form of a spin 

 round. We see them stop at the most trifling object which 

 they meet, and then they wheel round sharply if the rider 

 shows the slightest hesitation. These horses, I repeat, are 

 not afraid ; they are vicious, and nothing I have said about 



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