“Undoubtedly he is right,” was the reply, “but of all the horses now driven with blinders, nineteen out of twenty would be just as safe without them. A great deal depends on the training and early treatment of a horse; if he is broken without blinders he is very unlikely ever to need them, as he will be accustomed to the noise and sight of the carriage behind him and to what is going on around him. Some nervous horses are always looking back, and whenever the driver makes the least move they are apt to jump or become restive. Such horses may need blinders, but they should be put on in such a way as to allow a good range of vision in front. Several gentlemen have equipped their horses with narrow blinders, or more properly screens, that stand straight out from the side of the animal's head; he thus has a view in front and on both sides of him, but cannot seethe carriage and its occupant. Year by year the disuse of blinders increases, and we may hope for the day when they will be practically given up. Nobody thinks of putting them on saddle horses, and they are very rarely, if ever, used on trotting horses in harness. If not needed on race-trotters, why should they be placed on any other horse in harness?”
The subject of check-reins and blinders having been disposed of, Charley's next question referred to the use of the whip in riding or driving, and the spur in riding.
“For most purposes,” said Mr. Graham, “the whip should be more an article of ornament than of use. It should never be applied in anger, and in most applications it should be simply as a reminder. I have known horses that were quite lazy, and refused to move above a very slow pace, when their riders or drivers had no whips or spurs, but a single touch of either, at starting, rendered further use unnecessary. A lady's saddle horse requires a slight touch of the whip as an indication to take certain steps or to change from one pace to another. The best horsemen do not ride without spurs, but they very rarely use them, and then only for some real reason.
There is no need for the spurs to be sharp; in fact they had better be blunt, as the chances of injuring the horse are thus diminished.”
George asked how he could teach Major to follow him when he got off to walk a short distance, as frequently happens.
“For instruction on that point,” said Mr. Graham, “I will refer you to Mr. Rarey's book, where very clear instructions are to be found. They are copied on page 298 of 'The Book of the Horse.'”
George hunted up the paragraph and read as follows: