136 THE HORSE. 



rein, being still held in the left hand, prevents the horse falling 

 away from the operator, and is also used by him as a means of 

 guiding the animal, if he happens to progress in a direction which 

 is not desired. Nothing else is to be attempted till the horse has 

 quite exhausted all his energies, which those possessed of high 

 courage will soon do ; but low-bred animals are very apt to turn 

 sulky, and, refusing to plunge, remain on their knees, in spite of 

 every kind of stimulus which can be given them short of severe 

 punishment with the whip, which is to be avoided, as opposed 

 to the principles on which the whole process is founded. By 

 taking time with these brutes, they may always be made to tire 

 themselves, for the kneeling position is very irksome to them, 

 and the most stubborn will give a plunge now and then to re- 

 lieve themselves, though they will not follow up one with another 

 as speedily as a thorough-bred. Sooner or later (the time vary- 

 ing from ten minutes to two or three hours), the tail begins to 

 tremble, the flanks heave, and a profuse perspiration breaks out, 

 which are signs that the horse of himself desires the recumbent 

 position, and will lie down of his own accord, if not pulled over 

 by the right hand of the operator. Mr. Rarey, in his public exhi- 

 bitions, has never, so far as I am aware, waited for this to take 

 place, but, perhaps to prevent wearying his audience, has always 

 pulled his patient over on his side as soon as he could accomplish 

 the feat. In many cases, this impatience has led to a partial 

 failure ; the horse, not being tired out, has refused to submit, and 

 it has only been after repeating the process once or twice that com- 

 plete control has been obtained. Those gentlemen, therefore, who 

 wish to try the experiment for themselves, will do well to avoid 

 any risk of a repetition, which they may not be able to manage 

 with the dexterity of the great American tamer. Let them wait 

 till the horse is thoroughly tired, and then only interfere to such 

 an extent as to keep him leaning towards their side, by laying hold 

 of the right rein instead of the left, as shown in the engraving at 

 page 134; and drawing the head away from themselves. Mr. 

 Rarey generally used the right hand for this purpose, when he 

 wished to throw his patient before he was exhausted, because he 

 could in that way employ* more force ; and, at the same time, his 

 dexterity was such, that, if a bound was made, he was always 

 ready to hold the strap attached to the off foot before the horse 

 could get fairly on his hind legs, In whichever way the task is 

 accomplished, the effect is apparently the same the horse lies ex- 

 tended on his side, panting and sweating, in the most exhausted 

 condition ; but, of course, showing more of these symptoms of 

 distress the longer he has been kept resisting the restraints put 

 upon him. Now comes the test of the practical ability of the ope- 

 rator ; for whereas before he had only plain directions to carry out, 



