LESSONS
,—in the language of the MANEGE, are what is received by man, and given to the horse, according to the purposes for which they are designed, or the particular duties they are destined to discharge. Diverted of the practice of the schools, there are lessons which every man has it in his power to inculcate, and which never should be relaxed from, till the horse has attained a degree of perfection in those points, which render him a pattern of obedience, and consequent object of attraction to others, and a valuable acquisition to the owner. The first and principal is, never to let him move a single step forward, till his rider is firmly fixed upon his back, or his driver seated in his carriage; the same rule of standing perfectly still, being as invariably persevered in at the time of dismounting or alighting; by which some degree of safety will be insured; and it will soon become as habitual to the horse, as to those who RIDE or DRIVE him. He should always be accustomed to his own side of the road upon every emergency, which every horse soon knows from habit, and will not, but with reluctance, or upon compulsion, take the wrong, whatever may be the occasion; to a want of which very prudent, and very necessary precaution, may be attributed a majority of the accidents which so frequently happen in and round the Metropolis.