32 THEORY OF HORSE-CONTROL. 



DESIRABILITY OF EARLY TRAINING. 



As those instincts of the horse which are opposed to obedi- 

 ence to man, increase in strength with age, it is a great 

 advantage to begin the education of a horse as early as 

 possible. Horses which from their birth have roamed 

 about in freedom for several years, have their instinct of 

 independence so strongly developed, that it is proportion- 

 ately difficult to make them learn that it is their duty 

 to obey, and not to dictate. I have met many such cases 

 among South African and under-bred Australian horses 

 which had been " taken up " late in life. Although it 

 is easy to make these old pupils lose their fear of man, it 

 is often impossible to induce them to render willing service; 

 in other words, if not actually sulky, their hearts, so to 

 speak, are generally behind, instead of in front of, their 

 work. Not alone do these rebellious instincts grow stronger 

 with years, but their possessors become less capable of 

 being influenced by new impressions. 



Whether the pupil be a child or a horse, the first step 

 which the teacher will have to take in imparting instruc- 

 tion is to make him attend to his lesson. As the horse is 

 a gregarious and roving animal, whose instinct of self- 

 preservation prompts him, when in the open, to keep a 

 sharp look-out against the attacks of enemies ; the breaker 

 will be able to keep him far more attentive and obedient 

 in some convenient enclosure, such as a riding-school, 

 which contains no other horses and men, and which is free 

 from disturbing external influences, than in the open. 

 When the habit of obedience has been confirmed (but not 

 till then), the animal should be gradually accustomed to 



