The first three of the conditions, just mentioned, which are indispensable to the lady’s horse, can be quickly fulfilled by instruction on foot; although the remainder of the animal’s education should be completed by a good rider. I may remark, that many ladies ride so well, that any special preparation for their use, is almost needless. Besides this, the short habits of the present day are but little apt to make animals go unsteadily.
The employment of the rope-twitch (see [page 113]) will speedily correct any unsteadiness at mounting which cannot be remedied, without delay, by ordinary means. The horse may be broken of any tendency to shy at, or sidle away from, the habit, by putting the side-saddle on, fixing a rug to its near side, and giving the animal a few circling lessons on foot with the long reins (see [page 172]). The same practice, with frequent spells at reining back, will teach him to bend and collect himself to the required extent. Some work with the long reins, while the lady is in the saddle, will do the horse good, if he be at all awkward.
CHAPTER IX.
BREAKING HORSES TO HARNESS.
The place which I prefer to all others, for breaking a horse to harness, is an enclosure about thirty yards square, the ground of which is level, and hard enough to allow the wheels to run smoothly.
Whether intended partially for saddle purposes, or not, I would advise that the horse should be broken in the manner already described, before trying him between the shafts. Before putting him in, we should circle him for half-an-hour or more, with the long reins on foot (see [page 172]), and get an assistant, while the animal is going round, to gentle him under the belly and about the hind-quarters, as recommended by Pratt and others, with a long pole, without hurting him, so as to accustom him to its touch. The whip should also be cracked about the horse, without hitting him, until he ceases to mind its noise. If the horse resents these operations, which inflict no pain on him, the rope-twitch (see [page 113]) may be employed to enforce the required obedience; or the animal may be made to lie down (see [page 153]), and gentled. When the horse has been made quiet, he will readily take to double harness if put alongside a steady break-horse for a few times, and, when accustomed to this work, will, as a rule, go by himself without any trouble; although he may be a little awkward at first. If we want to put the animal into single harness, right off, and if we have got the gear at hand, we may harness the horse, put the strait-jacket over the harness, buckling it up, just tight enough, to prevent him kicking when it is on; and then drive him, on foot, with the long reins passed through the shaft-tugs, for a short time. We may now put him into the shafts of some suitable, light two-wheeled trap, retaining the strait-jacket over the harness. Two assistants, one on each side, may be employed to hold separate reins attached to the snaffle, while the driver stands on the near side, on about a line with the wheels, holding another pair of reins, which pass through the rings of the pad, and are, of course, fixed to the snaffle. If sufficient help be at hand, it is an advantage to have two other assistants to hold the traces of the strait-jacket ready to let out or draw tight, as may be required. After the horse has gone quietly for a bit, the strait-jacket may be removed, a kicking-strap substituted, and, after a little, an assistant may be put on the driving seat, with all proper precaution. When the horse has thoroughly settled down to his work, the breaker may get on to the seat, and dispense with the help of the other men, if he sees fit. With one man to hold the rope-twitch, and with the aid of a kicking-strap, the breaker, if expert, may easily manage to put a horse in single harness for the first time. In an enclosure such as I have described, the breaker may circle the horse in the trap, with the long reins on foot, by himself, and, in a short time, after the animal has settled down, he may get an assistant to sit in the trap. When the horse is found to go quietly inside the enclosure, he may be tried outside. I think it always the best and easiest plan to break a horse to harness, without blinkers.
CHAPTER X.
FAULTS OF MOUTH.
Boring—Chucking up the head—Pulling—Rearing—Shying—Stargazing—Tender-mouthed—Turn, difficult to—Yawing.
The classification of vices and faults adopted in this, and the following chapters, is, necessarily, somewhat arbitrary; as their causes are more often complex, than simple. The fact of many of them not possessing generally accepted names, has obliged me, in some cases, to sacrifice elegance and correctness of expression, for an attempt at conciseness and clearness of meaning.
Boring.—When the horse has got into the habit of carrying his head too low, we should get it into proper position by circling the animal on foot with the long reins (see [page 172]), and by reining him back. When he bores on one rein more than the other, we should adopt the same procedure; although we should devote our attention, mainly, to getting him to turn readily to the side on which his mouth is “hard,” until he bends to it, as easily as to the other. After half-an-hour’s judicious driving, the horse ought to carry himself, and obey the rein in the desired manner; although he may require half-a-dozen lessons to confirm the habit.
Chucking up the head.—Here we should teach the horse, in the manner just described, to “save” his mouth, by carrying his head in a proper position, and by bending his neck to the pull of the rein (see remarks on the standing martingale, [page 70]). Mr. Kemp, A.V.D., tells me that the animal may be easily broken of this objectionable habit by using a nose-band, inside the part that goes over the nose, three or four cowrie shells [small marbles would have the same effect] are sewn; the nose-band being kept in position by a standing martingale, which, of course, should be of the proper length (see [page 70]). This plan is on the same principle, as the method I have described; for, in both, the horse relinquishes the trick, on finding out that its practice inflicts pain, and that he can save himself from punishment, by obeying the rein.