In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 23 



horse to smell or touch you with his nose, always 

 following each touch or communication of this kind 

 with the most tender and affectionate caresses, 

 accompanied with a kind look and pleasant word of 

 some sort, constantly repeating the same words, with 

 the same kind, steady, tone of voice, as the horse soon 

 learns to read the expression of the face and voice, and 

 will know as well when fear, love, or anger prevails, 

 as you know your own feelings. Rarey's mode of 

 treatment if the horse is of a stubborn disposition : — 

 " If your horse instead of being wild seems to be of a 

 stubborn or mulish disposition, if he lays back his 

 ears as you approach him or turns his heels to kick 

 you, he has not that regard or fear of man that he 

 should have to enable you to handle him quickly and 

 easily, and it might be well to give him a few sharp 

 cuts with the whip against the legs close to the body. 

 It will crack keenly as it plies round the legs, and the 

 crack of the whip will affect him more than two or 

 three over the back, the skin on the inner part of the 

 legs or about the flank, being thinner and more tender 

 than on his back. Do not whip him much— just enough 

 to scare him. It is not because we want to hurt the 

 horse that we whip him; we only do it to scare the 

 bad disposition out of him; but whatever is done, do 

 quickly, sharply, and with fire ; but without anger. If 

 you are going to scare him at all, you must do it at 

 once ; never go into a pitch battle with your horse and 

 whip him until he is mad and will fight you ; you had 

 better not touch him at all, for you will establish, 

 instead of fear and regard, feelings of resentment, 



