To Educate a Horse to Sit Down
Horses differ very much in their capacity for being taught therefore, if you desire a pleasing subject, select one that is tractable. Directions: Make the Bonaparte bridle, and place it on your horse, so that you may have him under proper control, then put on him a common hame collar; now take two pole-straps and place one on each hind-leg, below the fetlock joint, and attach a cord, say twelve feet long, to each strap, carry your cord up through the collar on each side and bring the ends behind him, holding also the end of the Bonaparte bridle in your hand, and commence to pull on your cords; now repeat over the words, “sit down;” as he goes backwards draw up still more on your cords, until he shall sit down. Do not allow him to remain in this sitting posture more than a minute the first lesson. Repeat this two or three times a day for five or six days, and you, with the assistance of a whip pointed downwards to the ground, will witness the pleasing effect of your instruction by seeing your horse sit down at the word of command.