40 RAREY ON HORSE-TAMING. 



more than ten or fifteen minutes. Usually, at the 

 end of eight minutes' violent struggles, the animal 

 smks forward on his knees, sweating profusely, 

 with heaving flanks and shaking tail. If he still 

 resists he may be forced by the bit to walk back- 

 wards and forwards, but this is generally unneces- 

 sary, as by pushing gently at his shoulder, or by 

 pullmg steadily the off-rein, you can get him to fall, 

 m the one case on the near side, in the other on the 

 off side; but this assistance should be so slight that 

 the horse will not attempt to resist it. The horse 

 will often make a final spring when you think he is 

 qmte beaten ; but at length he slides over, and lies 

 down, panting and exhausted, on his side. If he is 

 a pretty spirited animal, take advantage of the mo- 

 ment to tie up the off fore-leg to the surcingle, as 

 securely as the other, in a slip-loop knot. 



Now let your horse recover his wind, and then 

 encourage him to make a second fight. It will often 

 he more stubborn and more fierce than the first, 

 ihe object of this tying-up operation is, that he shall 

 thoroughly exhaust without hurting himself, and that 

 he shall come to the conclusion that it is you who 

 hy your superior strength, have conquered him, and 

 that you are always able to conquer him 



^ Under the old rough-riding system, the most vi- 

 cious horses were occasionally conquered by daring 

 men with firm seats and strong arms, who rode and 

 flogged them into subjection; but these conquests 

 were temporary, and usually ^..,^^«^ , with every 

 stranger, the animal would begin his o,,nie ao-ain 



