352 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
be attached the reins, buckled to a ring on either side of 
the pad. The reins ought to be flat and allowed to be 
slack, and gradually tightened. The trainer should occa¬ 
sionally stand in front of the animal, and take hold of each 
side-rein near to the mouth, gently press upon it, and thus 
begin to teach him to back and stop by the pressure of the 
rein, always rewarding obedience, but gently punishing him 
by a slight jerk when obstinate. 
The colt should now be taken to the street, or road, and 
led about, to accustom him to meet carts and other objects 
without starting and shying; but if he does start or shy, 
he should not be allowed to pass on, but ought to be quietly 
led up to the object of his fear, and shown that it will not 
harm him. But on no account should he be beaten on such 
occasions. And should he be still shy, let him be taken 
past the object of his fear, first at a greater distance, and 
then nearer, until he may be quietly led close to it. It is 
only by patience on the part of the breaker that these 
difficulties are got the better of; whereas if the animal is 
forcibly and suddenly taken up to the object before the 
fear has subsided, a habit may be established, which will 
never afterwards be eradicated. Nothing can be more ab¬ 
surd than to beat even an adult and thorough-trained horse 
for shying This is certain to establish rather than remove 
the fault. The same system should be adopted with an 
aged horse, as recommended for the colt, and this I have 
found effectual in every case. The best horse is liable 
occasionally to shy at a white post, or other object which he 
may suddenly come upon, especially in the evening or in the 
dark ; but on no account should the rider proceed on his 
journey without quietly and deliberately leading up his 
horse to the object, and allowing him to see what it is. 
When the colt has been inured to walking on a road or 
