CONCLUSIONS. 173 
powerless condition, and his muscles are tired out, the latter interferes 
and relieves him of his trammels, “ gentles” him, gives him kind words, 
and at length encourages him to rise. The effect is marvellous—the most 
vicious brute, who would previously tear any man to pieces, after he is 
thus first coerced, and then “ gentled” and relieved, appears to grow fond 
of his master, and follows him about like a dog. Clearly, therefore, Mr. 
Rarey may be considered as having been eminently successful in pro- 
pounding a system of horse-taming; but it by no means follows that his 
process is equally, or even at all, useful in horse-breaking. There are 
other questions, also, which remain to be considered in relation to the 
method which I have described. First, Is it permanent quoad the indi- 
vidual who has carried it out? secondly, Does the vicious horse who has 
been subdued and “gentled” by one man, show the same absence of vice 
towards others? and thirdly, Is he injured in any way by the operation ? 
On the first of these points there appears to be strong evidence that, if 
the operator gives occasionally a very slight reminder of his powers, the 
effect of one, two, or three lessons, repeated at short intervals, will con- 
tinue for at least a year or two. There are numerous instances which 
have come to my knowledge of horses resuming their vicious habits 
within two or three months of receiving such a lesson from Mr. Rarey 
that they would allow him to do what he liked with them; but in the 
case of the savage Cruiser, there is reason to believe that he never once 
rebelled against his master from the time that he first gave in. In his 
case, however, the operation was repeated hundreds of times ; and there- 
fore it does not go so far as I have stated to be the rule, but others might 
be adduced which keep strictly within it; and there are also private indi- 
viduals who have practised on horses which have never been exhibited in 
public who have kept up their control unimpaired. The evidence in 
favour of the lasting nature of the controlling power, when exercised by 
the operator himself, is too strong to be gainsaid: and the first question 
may, I think, be safely answered in the affirmative. But in reference to 
the second, the evidence is all the other way; and on putting Cruiser into 
the witness-box, he would tell us that he has several times turned against 
his groom, and put his life in danger. Still, it must be remembered that, 
prior to his treatment by “ Rareyfication,” no man dared enter his box; 
and on comparing his two states, before and afterwards, it may be truly 
said, that though not absolutely cured of his vicious propensities, he is 
comparatively so. Probably the same conclusion may be arrived at in 
those cases which are related of relapses from virtue to vice; but, at all 
events, such instances are numerous enough, and attested in a manner so 
respectable, that every pessessor of a coerced horse should be always on 
_ his guard. The last question is somewhat difficult to answer, because the 
injury, if real, is not apparent. The chief means of testing the effect is on 
the powers of racehorses, several of which have felt Mr. Rarey’s straps, 
and been controlled by his master hand. Now, I believe there is no 
instance of a horse which had gone through the operation, doing any good 
subsequently on the turf. All have shown either a want of speed or 
heart; and whatever has been the cause of this, they have run behind 
those animals whose form was considered by good judges to have been 
previously inferior to them. Thus, Mr. Merry Miss Finch, when she 
first appeared, beat several fields of first-class two-year-olds ; and it was 
generally believed, when she afterwards was beaten, that it was only 
because her temper was so bad. Yet when this defect was so far remedied 
by the process I am considering, that Mr. M. Dawson ceuld ride her con- 
