TRAINING 69 



with another ; if the pressure of the legs is followed by 

 the prick of the spurs, he soon learns to obey the legs ; 

 if he is thrashed when he sees anything that frightens 

 him, he will soon jump about all over the place when 

 feeling uncertain as to what harm an object can do him. 



When it is necessary to associate pain with an act, 

 it is best that the punishment should be immediate 

 and severe, so as to make a strong impression on the 

 mind, and so avoid the necessity of having to repeat it ; 

 a mere threat will in future be sufficient to make it 

 worth the horse's while to be good. In the majority 

 of cases, however, it is best to associate all acts with a 

 pleasurable sensation, as the harm from an act only 

 comes from evil intentions, and a " soft answer turneth 

 away wrath ; " but kindness can only be indulged in 

 after the horse has learnt that the rider is master, and 

 it is advisable to always obtain one complete victory, 

 and to be good enough horseman to get it (Gustave 

 le Bon). 



When a fight is unavoidable and the rider is not 

 perfectly sure of his ability to bring it to a speedy 

 finish whilst on a horse's back, he had better get off 

 and administer a thrashing with a hunting crop from 

 terra firma, as in this case discretion is the better part 

 of valour. 



I have permanently defeated several horses in this 

 way, and Caj^tain de Saint Phalle also strongly recom- 

 mends this procedure in certain circumstances, and 

 gives instances of his own success. Thrashing a self- 

 willed, clever horse from his back is generally un- 

 satisfactory ; he is sure to take his rider alongside a 

 wall, to the edge of a ditch, or on to slippery ground, 

 and make it dangerous to continue the necessary fight 

 to a finish. 



