FATIGUE. 43 



of a well-broken companion. In giving a " reluctant " 

 horse a lead over a fence, both these influences come into 

 play. 



The effect of imitation is particularly well seen in young 

 horses, who love to copy the action of their companions. 

 When riding in company, I have frequently noticed the 

 newly-born colt or filly imitate the tricks or peculiarities 

 of those near her. For instance, if a companion has the 

 habit of throwing up his head, or boring it down, she will 

 probably try to follow suit ; though she will be more than 

 usually circumspect in her demeanour when restricted to 

 the society of a steady old horse. I recognise this prin- 

 ciple so fully that I make a point of not having young 

 horses which I am breaking-in, ridden in the company of 

 unsteady ones. 



FATIGUE 



May be used as a valuable adjunct to other means of 

 control, but should seldom be employed alone ; for its 

 effects usually are as transitory as the sensation itself. 

 Thus, if we, while riding or driving a bolter, allow him, 

 in order to cure him of his vice, to run himself to a stand- 

 still, we shall in all probability find the animal quite as 

 ready, if not more so, to run away the next time he is 

 " fresh." In such a case, the fact of the horse having been 

 allowed to do the very thing he wanted to accomplish, in 

 defiance of the wishes of his would-be master, can produce 

 no good effect in forming in him the habit of obedience. 

 Fatigue may often appear to be the sole cause of the quiet- 

 ness evinced by an animal under treatment of some of the 

 breaking methods I shall describe ; but this on examina- 

 tion will be found to be incorrect. Even the fatigue caused 

 in, say, rendering an unruly horse quiet to shoe behind, by 

 keeping him on the ground and " gentling " him (see page 



