8 HORSE AND MAN. 



Its action is all the more useful because it can be employed 

 in all cases with a varied choice of tone. A rider cannot, 

 on the contrary, always bring his hands and legs into 

 play. 



Let us suppose that a hot-headed, impetuous horse which 

 one is riding, gets startled and becomes maddened in a 

 place where there are several carriages, and that one cannot 

 get him out and steady him by means of the reins and legs. 

 The voice, however, will calm him down, if he has been 

 trained to obey it. 



The effect of the voice has often been a great help to me, 

 and has brought me out of many a difficulty. 



I like impetuous horses, and I rarely use any others. I 

 make them sufficiently quiet to carry ladies ; but I never 

 employ them for this purpose until I am certain that my voice 

 will soothe them when they are excited. I have avoided 

 accidents by always acting in this manner. 



MAKING MUCPI OF A HORSE. 



The good effect of " making much " of a horse should 

 not be neglected, as we shall see further on. The 

 education of the horse is based on the principles of reward 

 and punishment. Making much of a horse gives him con- 

 fidence, by placing the rider in direct contact with him 

 otherwise than by impulsion. 



All horses, even the most impatient, accept a pat on the 

 neck, which is therefore the place the rider should caress. 

 The pats on the neck should be given forcibly enough to 

 attract the attention of the horse, but without hurting the 

 animal. We should avoid touching him too lightly, which 

 might only have the effect of tickling him. 



A pat on the neck should be given at an appropriate time, 

 that is to say, immediately after an act of obedience on the 

 part of the horse, in the same manner as punishment should 



