28 ILLUSTRATED HORSE-BREAKING. 



Personal influence in breaking. For obtaining 

 quick results, the breaker should have the horse 

 entirely to himself ; so that no disturbing influence 

 may distract the animal's attention. The great 

 objection to the practice of personal 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 

 any interference from an outsider. I have fre- 

 quently been struck with this fact when breaking 

 savage horses who would, if they could help it, 

 allow no one, except their groom, to meddle with 

 them ; for I always found that they were far more 

 vicious to approach when their stable attendant was 

 holding them, than when he was absent. We may 

 often see the same trait of character evinced by 

 dogs that 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, in 



