HANDLING YOUR HORSE 57 



of all learn to control his own temper. Now I 

 imagine we all or most of us have a temper of some 

 sort, and there are very few of us who have not 

 allowed that demon to get the upper hand at some 

 period of our lives. To lose control of one's temper 

 is a sign of weakness, and, like all other weaknesses, 

 can be overcome by force of will. It is bad enough 

 to lose one's temper with a fellow-creature, but to 

 lose it with dumb animals and inanimate objects 

 indicates a mind that has lost its will power, and is 

 swayed by passion. If the heat within you must 

 find vent in an ebullition of temper, pick out a boy 

 bigger and stronger than yourself, and on him pour 

 out your pent-up wrath. When you have expended 

 your energy in trying to hit him and he has given 

 you a good pommelling, you will realise that a 

 temper is liable to get you into trouble if you 

 allow it to become your master. 



Horses are very trying, I admit, sometimes, and 

 it is much easier to sit here laying down rules about 

 keeping one's temper than to do it in reality. I am 

 sorry to say I have very often lost my temper with 

 a horse for refusing a fence, but have always 

 felt sorry for it afterwards, and, thinking it over in 

 cold blood, realised I have made a fool of myself. 



The old hunter you have ridden several seasons 

 knows your peculiarities better than you do yourself, 

 and will forgive an outburst of temper, because he 

 is aware from previous experience that you will be 

 kind again when the fit has passed. I would, how- 

 ever, have you remember that we gain our power 



