202 THE HORSE 



nor in public certainly, did she ever exhibit any approach to her former 

 speed. 



On the whole, therefore, it may fairly be concluded that Mr. Rarey's 

 plans are well adapted for the control of vicious horses, supposing they 

 are not subsequently wanted for the turf, in which case the utility of the 

 process is very questionable. As, however, all our horses are not vicious, 

 and as by the casting and gentling nothing more is effected than a general 

 control, it remains to be considered how far this is useful in breaking 

 colts for general purposes. My own belief is that it acts by producing 

 in the horse a compound feeling of fear and gratitude, the former being 

 the result of his fruitless efforts to get rid of the controlling hand of man, 

 and the latter being established from finding that hand relieve him of his 

 straps, and then caress and " gentle " him. If, therefore, any horse, even 

 without vice, is required to exhibit to his master or mistress any relations 

 more intimate than those which are usually practised in this country, 

 great advantage will result from the establishment of this fear and grati- 

 tude. With the exception, however, of cavalry and circus horses, we 

 generally content ourselves with that amount of intercourse which is 

 acquired in the saddle, and we do not want our hacks to exhibit tricks, 

 nor do we require them to follow us about at liberty like our dogs. It 

 has been attempted to show that this particular plan gets rid of a great 

 deal of cruelty to the horse, but this is altogether unfounded, for long 

 before the great American trainer made his appearance, writers on the 

 horse had denounced its use, and though many cruelly severe breakers 

 and grooms existed, as they still exist, yet they were exceptions to the 

 general rule. Cavalry horses, especially when on service, are requix'ed to 

 submit to the control of the men in many ways which are never in demand 

 for hacking or hunting, and the mere power of compelling the horse to lie 

 down and remain on the ground is worth a great deal of trouble to acquire. 

 As far as they are concerned, I think the use of Mr. Rarey's straps most 

 valuable ; and it must be remembered that this was all that the Canadian 

 military authorities certified in their recommendations which Mr. Rarey 

 brought with him across the Atlantic. The clever management of his 

 partner, Mr. Goodenough, and the profound secrecy maintained for so long, 

 carried the public away far beyond this, and, as in the fable of the fox who 

 had lost his tail, all those who had spent their ten guineas were anxious to 

 place their friends in the same predicament. This is the only way in which 

 I can account for the extraordinary conclusions to which so many practised 

 horsemen arrived in 1858. Since that time, it is true, the fashion has 

 subsided, and a more temperate view has been taken, the general opinion 

 of good judges being, I believe, pretty much in accordance with those which 

 I have always held publicly and privately, and which I have here en- 

 deavoured to convey to my readers. 



Before proceeding to inquire into the merits of Mr. Rarey's plan as 

 compared with our own mode of breaking, it will be well to describe 

 what the latter is, and then ascertain which is the best mode of carrying 

 out our object. No horseman in this country would dream of using 

 the animal he intends to ride or drive without the control of a bit, 

 and although he may aid this powerful instrument with his voice, hia 

 leg, his whip, or his spur, yet it always has been, and still is, the chief 



