The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



another channel. It is so much easier to 

 avoid than to overcome trouble. Fetch out a 

 handful of oats, hold it out to him in the right 

 hand and pull his head round to it by the halter- 

 bridle. He recognises that the weight on his 

 back is the Master of Oats, and all risk of 

 trouble is at an end. Pat him and make a 

 great fuss with him, and work about a bit on 

 his back for a little ; then ask him to move 

 on. Lo ! you are riding the wild horse and 

 the odd thing is that he makes not the faintest 

 objection ! Take him all round the straw-yard, 

 backwards and forwards, stop him, move him 

 on again until he responds promptly to every 

 direction and indication of your will. Then 

 slip down slowly from his back, pet him some 

 more, and administer just a trifle of oats. 

 Move off, and he will follow you. Wherever 

 you go he will follow, with his nose a little in 

 advance of your elbow, and, when you stop 

 he will stop, and most probably rub his nose 

 or neck against you. As the quickest means 

 of promoting confidence, affection, and smart 

 response to your desires, the throwing of the 

 horse and the massage which follows, exactly 

 as in the methods described, cannot be even 

 approached by any other system of treatment. 



Untie the halter rope, and move off again 

 with it in your hand. He will follow as before, 

 close up to you, without any pull on the rope, 

 just because he likes to be near you. But 



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