Pulling.—We should give the hard puller, at least, a dozen lessons with the long reins on foot, teaching him, somewhat sharply, that he must obey the rein. It is, also, well to use the word whoa,” or any other suitable one, as recommended by Pratt, Magner, and others, whenever we pull him up; so that he may learn to stop on hearing it. Making him lie down and keeping him on the ground (see [page 158]) will be of great service in reducing the runaway to obedience. The breaker will naturally have to regulate the severity and frequency of this beneficial discipline, as he may see fit.
Rearing.—The rearer should, in the same manner, be taught to swing his quarters round, on either rein being pulled, with the outward rein kept low down; and, when he is perfect at this, the lesson should be completed, with this rein on the driving pad. If he rears, as a defence against the action of the rein, the breaker should pull all the harder. If this brings the animal “over;” so much stronger will be the effect produced. When jibbing is combined with rearing, if we find that the desired result is not obtained by the process of driving on foot, as speedily as we may wish; we may make the horse lie down, and keep him on the ground, with his head turned round (see [page 158]), until he gives in. We may also apply the same discipline to those terribly dangerous animals that endeavour to crush their rider, by throwing themselves backward.
Shying.—Leaving out all cases of shying which are due to defective sight, I venture to say that the vast majority of shyers can be made to relinquish this annoying trick, merely by giving them good mouths with the long reins on foot. This mouthing practice, not alone, makes the horse attentive, as well as obedient, to the indications of the rein, but it also teaches discipline, and gives the animal confidence in his director; and, hence, removes the two causes of shying: namely, fear, and wilfulness. If the shyer shows great timidity, which is often combined with impatience of control (see [page 4]), the animal should be rendered quiet, as described in Chapter III. All these remarks apply equally well to shying off the ball at polo, and off the peg at tent-pegging, and to other forms of yawing about, and not going straight.
Stargazing.—See “Chucking up the head.”
Tender-mouthed.—We may overcome any undue tenderness of the mouth, or unwillingness to “go up to the bridle,” by circling the horse on foot with the long reins, with, and without, a rider on the animal’s back. When the horse finds that he does not get his mouth “pulled about,” he will, in two or three lessons, gain confidence, and will allow a steady pull on the reins.
Turn, difficult to.—The practice with the long reins on foot, advocated for the correction of shying, etc., will be found to be an effective remedy in this case; and is specially applicable for polo ponies that shy off the ball, and are difficult to turn quickly.
“Yawing.”—The animal may be broken of this habit, when ridden, of going from side to side, instead of straight, by the method recommended for shying.
CHAPTER XI.
NERVOUSNESS AND IMPATIENCE OF CONTROL.
Buck-jumping—Difficult to bridle, handle, mount, dismount, ball, or drench—Difficult to put into a railway train, ship’s horse-box, etc.—Difficult to shoe—Nervous of being touched with the heel—Unsteady with the whip; under fire; when drawing swords, etc.
Buck-jumping.—The best procedure I know to overcome this vice, is to circle the horse with the long reins on foot, frequently turning him (see “Shying,” [page 220]), for about half-an-hour; make him lie down, and keep him on the ground with his head turned round (see [page 158]), till he, apparently, “gives in”; then let him up; tie him head and tail, and saddle him, with one girth over the cord (see [page 197]); let him revolve round, and while he does so, gentle him on the ribs with the end of the long pole (see [page 203]), until he stands its touch. The horse can now be mounted in the manner described on [page 197]. If we have got a rider that does not mind the chance of a fall, we may omit the head and tail business, and have the horse saddled and mounted with the long reins on him, when he recovers his feet after undergoing his discipline on the ground. The breaker who holds the long reins, should pull the horse round, from side to side, the moment the assistant gets into the saddle; and, having obtained control over him, should circle and turn him several times, until he goes quite freely. The long reins can now be taken off, and the snaffle reins given to the rider, who, previous to this, should not touch the reins; although he may use the breast-plate, or other convenient object, as an aid, in case of accident, for retaining his balance.