The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



Try slipping the legstrap on the old horse 

 first, not on the disciple. There is a knack in 

 putting it on, and, with practice, it can be done 

 so swiftly that the horse has no time to resist. 



Pat him and stand aside. He won't know 

 at all what to make of it. He will probably 

 put his nose down and touch his knee, to try 

 and understand what has happened. Then he 

 will throw his head up, and strike out with 

 the bound foreleg, a dozen times. No good. 

 He will make a step forward with the free fore- 



the impression upon him that, as an animal, you are physic- 

 ally so much stronger than he is that it is useless for him to 

 resist you. The good impression is formed hf the massage 

 and petting which you give him when he is lying exhausted 

 and helpless on the ground. The action is commenced by a 

 rearward puU on the bridle, which will cause the horse to 

 hft the off fore foot from the ground. At that instant you 

 pull up the strap fastened on the pastern on the off foreleg 

 and hold it tightly in your right hand, so that he cannot 

 straighten the off foreleg. He then comes down on both 

 knees (on which you have put knee-caps) and the fight begins. 

 He will rear and come down again on his knees, and wiU con- 

 tinue this until, steaming with perspiration, he becomes so 

 completely exhausted that he can rear no more ; and you 

 pull him over on his side. Then carry on, as related in this 

 chapter. This handling of a horse and the subsequent pet- 

 ting has the very remarkable effect, upon even the most vicious 

 horse, of imbuing him with a strong personal affection for 

 yourself, and when you allow him to get up, he will not leave 

 you, but will follow you anywhere, just like a dog. Although 

 the author has thrown many hundreds of horses in this 

 manner, and the fights put up by some have been phenomenal, 

 he has never known a horse to be strained or receive any other 

 injury, nor has he injured himself. Begin with a small pony, 

 who will most efficiently teach you all the points of the game. 



48 



