rarey's method op taming horses. 359 



purpose of breaking colts. It is almost Impossible to break 

 a colt that is very wild with a rope halter, without having him 

 pull, rear, and throw himself, and thus endanger his life ; and 

 this, because it is just as natural for a horse to try to get his 

 head out of anything that hurts it, or feels unpleasant, as it 

 would be for you to try to get your hand out of a fire. The 

 cords of the rope are hard and cutting ; tlus makes him raise 

 bis head and draw on it, and as soon as he pulls, the slip noose 

 (the way rope halters are always made) tightens, and pinches 

 his nose, and then he will struggle for life, until, perchance, he 

 throws himself. But this is not the worst. A horse that has 

 once pulled on his halter can never he as well broken as one 

 that has never pulled at all. 



Before anything more is attempted with the colt, some of 

 the characteristics of his nature must be noticed, that his 

 motions may be better understood. Every one that has ever 

 paid any attention to the horse, has noticed his natural in- 

 clination to smell everything which to him looks new and 

 frightfal. This is their strange mode of examining everything. 

 And when they are frightened at anything, though they look 

 at it sharply, they seem to have no confidence in their eyesight 

 alone, but must touch it with their nose before they are en- 

 tirely satisfied ; and, as soon as they have done that, all seems 

 right. 



If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic of the 

 horse, and to learn something of importance concerning the 

 peculiarities of his nature, etc., turn him into the barn yard, 

 or a large stable will do, and then gather up something that 

 you know will frighten him — a red blanket, buffalo robe, or 

 something of that kind. Hold it up so that he can see it, he 



