POWELL'S SYSTEM EXPLAINED. 19 



considerable distance furtlier on every time tliis 

 happens. The head, ears, neck, and body being 

 thus gentled, proceed from the baclj to the root of 

 the tail. 



This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse 

 is never to be depended on that is skittish about the 

 tail. Let your hand fall liglitly and rapidly on that 

 part next to the body a minute or two, and then you 

 will begin to give it a slight pull upwards every 

 quarter of a minute. At the same time you con- 

 tinue this handling of him, augment the force of the 

 strokes as well as the raising of the tail, until you 

 can raise it and handle it with the greatest ease, 

 which commonly happens in a quarter of an hour in 

 most horses, in others almost immediately, and in 

 some much longer. It now remains to handle all 

 his legs ; from the tail come back again to the head 

 — handle it well, as likewise the ears, breast, neck, 

 &c., speaking now and then to the horse. Begin by 

 degrees to descend to the legs, always ascending and 

 descending, gaining ground every time you descend, 

 until you get to his feet. 



Talk to the horse while you are thus taming Mm ; 

 let him hear the sound of your voice, which at the 

 beginning of the operation is not quite so necessary, 

 but which I have always done in making him lift up 

 his feet. " Hold up your foot," you will say, at the 

 same time lifting up his foot with your hand. He 

 soon becomes familiar with the sounds, and will hold 

 up his foot at command. Then, proceed to the hind 

 feet, and go on in the same manner ; and in a short 



