Mr Hermann Vezin. 131 



services of this mule for several months, would have come 

 to my class, paid the fees, learned my methods, and have 

 completed the course of instruction which I had commenced, 

 and which I had shown was easy of accomplishment. Not 

 a bit of it ! On the contrary, they blamed me ; because, by 

 their ignorant mismanagement, they were able after a few 

 days to undo all the good effects of my one lesson, and to 

 make the mule as bad as he was before. I cannot too 

 strongly impress on my readers that, as a rule, it is of 

 but little use attempting to cure a spoiled horse or mule, 

 without at the same time teaching the method of instruction 

 to the animal's owner or caretaker, who can then confirm 

 the habit of obedience by repetition as may be required. 

 When I began teaching my Woolwich friends, I could not 

 help thinking of the last time I was in that manege, bumping 

 round and ' making the corners ' to the orders of that stern dis- 

 ciplinarian, Sergeant-Major Dann, who is now a major without 

 the 'Non-Corn.' title. The fact of my being the only non- 

 official who has ever been received in that exclusive riding- 

 school, was an exceedingly high compliment, which I fully 

 appreciated. On parting, Colonel Lyons and the other 

 members of the class said a lot of very nice things to me 

 about my teaching. 



Mr Hermann Vezin, the well-known actor, whom I knew, 

 as he used to teach my wife elocution, had a great fancy for 

 seeing horses broken-in, and accompanied me in the quest 

 on a few occasions. Long ago he had attended Rarey's 

 performances, and seemed to highly approve of my work at 

 Woolwich, where my pupils were always glad to see him. 

 Like many members of my various classes, Mr Vezin knew 

 nothing practically about horses, and never went near one ; 

 yet these animals possessed a great attraction for him. Had 

 I had, during my tours, to rely solely on the support of 

 horsey people, I would not have been able to have paid my 

 way. In fact, I often found that men who prided themselves 

 most on their knowledge of horses, thought it derogatory to 



