12 GRACEFUL RIDING. 



and stanch companions, and on them is the Arabs' 

 sole reliance in their predatory excursions ; they in- 

 habit the same tent, and the neck of the horse is not 

 unfrequently the pillow of the Arab and his family ; 

 yet no accident ever occurs ; the kindness with 

 which he is treated gives him an affection for his 

 master, a desire to please, and a pride in exerting 

 every energy in obedience to his command. 



Bad habits are speedily acquired by the horse, 

 and when once learned, are very difficult to break 

 him of. 



In nine cases out of ten they arise from the 

 stupidity^ joined to the brutality, of an idle, drunJcen, 

 ill-tempered groom ; icho, ichen out of temper, in- 

 variahly Tents his rage upon the unoffending animal, 

 which, at last, to protect (or revenge) itself from tbe 

 besotted tormentor, acquires a habit of kicking and 

 biting at every person and thing coming within its 

 reach, fearing that they are about to maltreat it. 



Many horses are condemned as vicious, and 

 actually are rendered so through timidity on the 

 part of the 7'ider. 



The animal may be playful from rest, or a lively 

 temper by nature ; the rider, tchose judgment may 

 not enable him to discriminate between playfulness, 

 nervousness, or vice, becomes alarmed, and, conse- 

 sequently, loses his self-command ; and, perhaps, 



