VICES AND BAD HABITS. S2& 



the oidinary shyer almost always shows by his ears that 

 he is prepared to turn. 



For shyers the only remedy is, to take as little e ctice 

 as possible, to make light of the occurrence, speak encour- 

 agingly, yet rather severely, and to get them hy the object 

 somehow tn Other. If needful, the aid of the spur and 

 whip may be called in, but not as a punishment. If the 

 horse can be urged to go by the object at which he is shying 

 without the whip or spur, so much the better; but if not, ha 

 must be compelled to do so by their use. Whenever fear 

 is the cause of shying, punishment only adds to that fear 

 but where vice has supplanted fear, severity should be 

 used to correct it. As a general rule the whip need never 

 be used, unless the horse turns absolutely round, and not 

 then unless there is reason to suspect that he is pretending 

 fear. If only he will go by the object, even with ' a wide 

 berth,' as the sailors say, he may be suffered to go on his 

 way unpunished; and nothing is so bad as the absurd 

 severity which some horsemen exercise after the horse has 

 conquered his reluctance, and passed the object. At this 

 time he should be praised and patted, with all the encour- 

 agement -wshich can be given ; and on no account should 

 he be taught to make those rushes which we so commonly 

 see on the road, from the improper use of the whip and 

 spur. If punishment is necessary at all, it must be used 

 beforehand; but it often happens that the rider cannot 

 spare his whip-hand until the shying is over ; and then, in 

 his passion, he does not reflect that the time is gone by for 

 its employment. 



Baulking or Jibbing. — This is one of the most j)ro» 

 voking vices of the horse, and it can be successfully corn- 

 batted only by a man of the most imperturbable temper. 

 The least sign of vexation only incriiases the evil, and 



