THE HALTER-TWITCH. in 



blindfolding apparatus ; as no horse will attempt 

 any aggressive movement towards the man who 

 holds the leading rein, when thus secured. The 

 rope may be jerked and the word ** steady" used, 

 as may be required. The pain inflicted by the 

 application of this twitch, is a necessary evil, 

 which may well be disregarded ; for its amount is 

 trifling in comparison with the extent of control 

 obtained by its means. If employed carefully, no 

 mark need be left on the mucous membrane. 

 The proper use of this twitch is thoroughly 

 rational, for it keeps the horse quiet by its deter- 

 rent effect, and not by retaining the horse -in a 

 continued state of suffering, as is done by the 

 ordinary twitch. The word ''steady," or any 

 convenient substitute for it, should never be 

 omitted ; for, after the animal has learned, as he 

 will do in a minute or two, to connect it with 

 the idea of pain, the twitch may be removed, 

 and the word alone used, in order to keep him 

 in subjection. In this experiment, it is evident 



