Kissing.—This is done by accustoming the horse to take some coveted bit of food out of one’s mouth.
Laughing.—This is accomplished in the same way, as a horse is taught to shake his head, by pricking him with a pin, except that, here, the irritation is applied to the muzzle. The horse, thus, learns, on the signal being given, to turn up his upper lip, and shew his teeth. I forget where I, first, saw mention of this trick, which appears to me, neither useful, nor amusing.
Lying down.—Make the horse lie down in the manner described on [page 153]. When he does so, without offering any resistance, let down the strapped-up leg, and repeat the lesson, until perfect obedience is obtained. We may, then, take off the throwing gear, and make him lie down, by drawing his head round to, say, the near side, with the rein, while standing alongside the off shoulder. The horse will, now, easily learn to lie down, on receiving a signal to do so, by bringing his head round, or, even, by simply saying the words, “Lie down,” if they have been employed from the commencement of the teaching. It is, always, well to conduct these lessons on a soft piece of ground with plenty of litter on it; so as to afford the animal an inducement to lie down. Colonel Salkeld of the 2nd Bengal Cavalry has suggested to me the advisability of giving this instruction to army horses, when ordered, after parade, at a time when they are, more or less, tired.
“No.”—Take a pin, and prick the horse on the crest with it, until he shakes his head, which he will, readily, do, on that part becoming irritated; as that action is the only means he possesses of getting rid of any annoying object which may pitch on that region. By continuing to touch the horse with the pin, we can make him so sensitive as to shake his head, when touched, only, by the finger; and, finally, even by, merely, raising the hand, which will be a suitable signal to make an animal signify his dissent from a question he may be asked. This is an old circus trick.
Obeying without reins.—Mr. Rockwell, the American horse-tamer, instructed three horses so well, that he was able to drive them together in a trap, and make them moderate their speed, turn, stop, and go on, in perfect obedience, by signals, without reins. Professor Sample used to drive tandem with a leader that did his work without either reins, or traces! The following would be appropriate signals for performing these feats:—“Clicking” with the tongue; for “go on.” “Steady”; for “moderate speed.” Holding up whip, or saying “whoa!” for “stop.” Holding whip to the left, or “left”; for “turn to the left.” Holding whip to the right, or “right”; for “turn to the right.”
The right-about-turn, and left-about-turn, might be indicated by bringing the whip round, to the right rear, or to the left rear, as the case might be. The signals should be taught the horse by employing them, on all occasions, when using the equivalent indications of the rein, which, to be additionally impressive, should be given sharper than usual.
Picking up a handkerchief, etc.—This is, usually, taught while standing at the horse’s side, by pricking him on the ribs with a pin, or pinching him, so as to make him turn round and snap, and, consequently, to seize with his teeth, a handkerchief that is held in a convenient position for him to do so. When he catches hold of the handkerchief, the teacher should take it gently away, and should substitute some appropriate dainty. The horse will, then, soon learn to recognise the fact, that he gets a reward for taking hold of the handkerchief; and, then, can be readily taught to pick it up, or to take it off one of his legs, to which it is loosely tied. Horses that are naturally ticklish, and inclined to snap, are the quickest to learn this trick, in this manner. Instead of getting the horse to catch hold by irritating him, the same object may be obtained by tying up, in the handkerchief, a piece of carrot, or other bonne bouche, and inducing the animal to lift up the handkerchief, in his endeavour to get at the contained morsel.
See-sawing on a plank, etc.—Employ the rope-twitch (see Figs. 19-22, pages 108-18), and Comanche bridle (see Figs. 49-51).
Shaking hands.—Teach, as in “begging, q.v., the animal to advance his foot, by pulling it forward.
Shaking the head.—See “No.”