PIAFFERS AND "PASSAGES." 295 



whip. In any case, we must make the animal go forward at 

 all cost. Here we are in a pitched battle, and we have got to 

 know whether the man or the horse is to be master. We 

 should on no account yield. Any means will do, because we 

 must win the battle, otherwise the horse will be restive. Of 

 course, I do not advise violent spurring or other severe 

 measures, unless the horse obstinately runs back, in which 

 case the only alternative left to the breaker is not to be 

 beaten. 



If the horse finds out that he can escape work by running 

 back, he will become the master of his rider ; and every 

 time the rider uses the spurs, no matter for what movement, 

 the horse will run back. If the man does not inflict exemp- 

 lary punishment, ivJiile the animal is running back, he had 

 best give up the breaking, and — which is still wiser — the horse. 



We ought to remain cool, however energetically we may 

 act. If we give way to anger, we will become more quickly 

 exhausted than the horse. With this proviso, punish the 

 horse coolly and severely until he learns that the more he goes 

 back, the more pain he will suffer, and consequently he will go 

 forward, in which case we should immediately pat him on the 

 neck, get off, and stop the lesson. 



It does not matter whether the struggle takes place at the 

 beginning or middle of the lesson, but as soon as the horse 

 yields we should stop it, because, if we recommence the work, 

 we cannot be sure of obtaining a second concession in the same 

 lesson, especially if the horse has been obstinate for a long 

 time. Besides, we are both tired, and the animal can offer 

 only passive resistance, which is the most terrible of all. We 

 may kill him by blows, but he will not stir. We have gone 

 beyond his strength, and by persisting we will succeed only in 

 disgusting him for ever. 



We should therefore profit by the smallest concession, and 

 should, above all things, avoid prolonging the punishment when 



