54 THEORY OF HORSE-CONTROL. 



gifted, apart from skill, knowledge, pluck, and physical 

 advantages.* The great objection to the practice of per- 

 sonal influence as a breaking agent is, that although the 

 animal may be perfectly obedient to the man who has 

 had the exclusive handling of him, he may be refractory 

 with other people, and may even jealously resent inter- 

 ference from anyone else. I have frequently been struck 

 with this fact when breaking savage horses who would 

 not, if they could help it, allow anyone except their groom 

 to meddle with them ; and have always found that they 

 were more vicious to approach when their stable attend- 

 ant was near them, than when he was absent. We may 

 often see the same feeling evinced by dogs which would fly 

 at any stranger who dared to touch them, as long as they 

 were with their master ; although they might be fairly 

 amiable if he were not present. However much we may 

 admire to the abstract this fidelity to one, it is apt, in the 

 horse, to detract from the animal's usefulness under civi- 

 lised conditions ; especially if the owner be not regarded as 

 the confidential friend in question. When the groom is the 

 object of this exclusive form of affection, it is generally 

 advantageous to have him changed for a new man. 



ADVISABILITY OF POSSESSING VARIOUS METHODS OF 

 BREAKING. 



As horses differ greatly in temper and intelligence, and 

 as the removal of the cause is the best plan for the treat- 

 ment of either disease or vice ; the breaker, to be success- 

 ful in the instruction of young horses, or in the reforma- 

 tion of " spoiled " ones, should be provided with various 



* Despite this statement, the fact remains that Captain Hayes possessed an 

 extraordinary amount of patience with difficult horses, and has been known to 

 spend more than six hours with a jibber without showing the least display of 

 temper. 



