New Horses.—New horses should be exercised daily, at first being led by men on foot, and later by men mounted on quiet horses. The exercise should be at a walk, and is used to quiet and strengthen the animals. When leading a young horse mounted, the side upon which he is led should often be changed to avoid giving a false set to the neck.
Care of New Horses.—The young horse should have flannel bandages on his fore legs when exercised, from the fetlock to the knee, to support the flexor tendons and to keep the horse from hitting himself, thereby often causing splints.
After exercising, the legs should be rubbed and the tendons massaged, then washed with cool water and flannel bandages applied. The tendons are thereby supported and wind-puffs and swellings prevented.
How to Adjust a Bandage.—A bandage should be wound up with the tapes inside. Unroll six or eight inches of it, and lay this loose portion obliquely across the outside of the leg, close to the knee, with the end reaching to about the center of that joint, and the rolled-up part turned to the outside, and directed downward and forward. The beginning should be continued around the fetlock and upper part of the pastern, and brought back close up below the knee. The loose end is then turned down, and the folds of the bandage carried over it. The tapes are tied a little above the center of the cannon bone. (Hayes.)
To Approach an Uncertain Horse.—To go up to an uncertain horse which is held or tied up in the open, approach the fore leg on the near side at an angle of about 70 degrees to the direction of the axis of the horse. Having reached his shoulder, place a hand on his crest and stroke the mane. When a certain degree of confidence is restored to the horse, further handling may be undertaken.
To Lead a Horse with the Snaffle, and to Adjust Snaffle.—To lead a horse with a snaffle mounted or dismounted, pass both reins through the near snaffle ring if the horse is to be on the off side. In placing the snaffle bridle upon a fractious horse, place the reins first over the neck, if possible. If the horse objects to having the head-stall put on, unfasten the left check-strap from the ring of the snaffle. Place the head-stall in position, then put the bit in the mouth and refasten the cheek-strap. If impracticable to remove the halter before bridling the horse, place the bridle on over the halter, then unfasten the halter, slip the nose-band down over the nostrils, then into the mouth and around under the bit and out of the mouth. The halter will then fall off.
Longeing.—The following principles must be considered when longeing:
1. The horse must be controlled by the longe; the only function of the whip is to move the horse forward.
2. The length of the longe should be frequently changed. The horse should alternately stretch himself on a large circle and bend himself on a small circle.