To enjoy our horse to the fullest extent we should take entire care of him ourselves.  He should be fed and watered regularly and groomed every morning until his coat shines.  If we neglect a horse and allow his coat to become rough it is almost as bad as to neglect feeding him.  Never trust the care of your horse too much to another.  Even if you keep him in a public stable or have a man of your own to care for him, it is well to let them see that you are interested in giving your horse close personal attention.

XIV

HOW TO SWIM AND TO CANOE

The racing strokes—­Paddling and sailing canoes

It has been said that the human being is the only animal that does not know instinctively how to swim without the necessity of being taught.  If we take a dog or a horse or even a mouse and suddenly place it in the water it will immediately begin to swim, even though it has never seen a body of water larger than the source from which it obtains its drink.  With a man or boy it is different, for the reason that with all the other animals the motions necessary to swim are those by which they walk or run; with a human being it is entirely an acquired stroke.  After one becomes an expert swimmer he will find that he can keep afloat or at least keep his head above water, which is all there is to swimming anyway, by almost any kind of a motion.  By a little practice we can learn to swim “no hands,” “no feet,” “one hand and one foot,” by all sorts of twists and squirms and in fact to propel ourselves by a simple motion of the toes.

The first stroke that a self-taught small boy learns is what is called “dog fashioned.”  This name accurately describes the stroke, as it is in reality very similar to the motions by which a dog swims.  No amount of book instruction can teach a person to swim, but a clear idea of the best general strokes will be of great assistance.

Swimming is probably the best general exercise among athletic sports.  Practically every important muscle in the body is brought into play, and measurements show that swimmers have the most uniform muscular development of any class of athletes.  After we learn to swim, the distance that we are capable of going is largely dependent upon our physical strength.  Almost any man can swim a mile if he begins slowly and with the same regard for conserving his strength that a runner would have in attempting a mile run.

[Illustration:  Swimming is One of the Best Outdoor Sports (Photograph by A.R.  Dugmore)]

However skillful one is as a swimmer, a proper respect for the dangers of the sport should always be present.  To take unnecessary risks, such as swimming alone far beyond reach of help or jumping and diving from high places into water of uncertain depth is not bravery; it is simply foolhardiness.  A good swimmer is a careful swimmer always.  The beginner must first of all try to overcome his natural fear of the water.