HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



141 



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 which ever 

 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 operator ; for whereas before 

 he had only plain directions to carry out, 

 he has at this stage to judge how far his 

 efforts are successful. If he takes off the 

 straps too soon, the patient is patient no 

 longer, but rises rapidly, and perhaps 

 rewards him by planting a severe blow on 

 his ribs. It is here that Mr. Rarey dis- 

 played his great skill to perfection. Ap- 

 parently by intuition, he knew when his 



Fig. 33.— The Horse on his Knees, about to fall on his side. 



pupil was mastered; but, as he was always 

 ready to explain, it was really by two 

 symptoms that he judged whether he had 

 gained the mastery or not. One of these 

 was the expression of the eye, which it 

 would be difficult to describe, and which 

 experience alone could adequately con- 

 vey to those who wish to understand it ; 

 but the other, being readily tested, is 

 within the reach of every one. This con- 

 sists in the entire flaccidity of the muscles 

 of the neck and limbs ; and until this is 

 ascertained to have been obtained, the 

 straps should not be entirely removed. 

 Mr. Rarey's plan of proceeding at this 

 stage was the following. A second or two 

 after the horse went down, he let him 



raise his head, and then dragged it down 

 again to the ground by the mane. On 

 repeating this once, twice, or thrice, the 

 animal would give in as far as that part 

 was concerned ; and being rewarded with 

 a pat of the hand, the head remained still 

 on the ground, and that part was" gentled.** 

 Next removing the leg straps, the fore 

 legs were separately gently rubbed down- 

 wards; and on being lifted, and let fail, as 

 if dead, they also were passed as in a simi- 

 lar satisfactory state. While in this state, 

 the horse lies in the attitude and with the 

 expression which is very well represented 

 in the accompanying sketch, and there he 

 will gladly lie as long as he is permitted 

 to do so. But he is not to be allowed to 



