38 



PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT. 



FIGS. 31-36. Extremes of 

 Low-bred, Vicious Character. 



to become more or less confused and unable 

 to understand or obey. The principle is the 

 same in teaching a horse to do anything in 

 or out of harness ; the point being that such 

 means or methods of treatment are to be 

 used as will give the necessary control, and 

 at the same time convey to the understanding 

 in the most direct manner the idea of what is 

 desired to be done. 



Now, the principle is exactly the same in 

 both preventing and overcoming viciousness 

 or bad habits, no 'matter what their character 

 or degree ; the only difference being that in- 

 stead of teaching a trick, or obedience in any 

 respect, we must aim now to combat the habit 

 already formed, simply repeating until there is 

 entire docility and submission. 



Again, in resorting to physical power, the 

 nearer we are able to use it so as not to cause 

 pain nor excite the belligerent nature of the 

 horse, the better. If a man were strong 

 enough to take a fighting bully by the shoul- 

 ders and shake him so thoroughly as to show 

 him that he had power to control the fellow as 

 he pleased, and then treat him kindly and 

 convince him that his intentions were good, it 

 would have a better effect in impressing him 

 with a sense of the man's mastery, and make 

 him less inclined to resist, than if he had ob- 

 tained control of him after a desperate struggle 

 that would heat his blood and arouse his pas- 

 sions to the point of recklessness. 



In like manner, if we could use power 

 directly upon a horse, so as to restrain and 

 control him as we wished, it would be far more 

 effective than if the effort were of a character 

 to cause him to become maddened and heated ; 

 or, if this be impossible, then the reso'rting to 

 such indirect measures of coercion as will en- 

 able us to accomplish this most safely and 

 easily. 



Now, the treatment herein given does this 



