RIDING AND DRIVING 97 



exact feelings of his rider, but whether this is con- 

 veyed by a touch on the reins or by the pressure of 

 the leg I have never yet been able to decide. You 

 may, however, be quite certain that the animal is 

 fully aware of any fear or nervousness you enter- 

 tain before you know it yourself. This is why 

 horses which are irreproachable in their behaviour 

 with some men will, when mounted by a nervous 

 individual, perform all kinds of disconcerting antics, 

 and make themselves generally unpleasant. 



This sympathetic magnetism, or whatever it is, 

 becomes a very powerful medium in the hands of 

 a good rider, and he is able to convey his wishes 

 to the animal he bestrides as quickly as his brain 

 evolves them, whereas the bad or nervous rider 

 imparts unconsciously only the fears he is imbued 

 with. 



This is one good reason why a horseman should 

 never be vacillating or undecided, but always quick 

 to make up his mind. If you do not know your- 

 self what you want to do, the horse will become 

 confused by the chaos in your mind, and will 

 either get frightened or, if strong-willed, will assert 

 his superiority and ever afterwards refuse to obey 

 you. Man must supply the nerve and brain power; 

 then, if he has a certain amount of experience, he 

 will find the horse a willing servant. A horse with 

 a nervous man on his back is like a ship without 

 a rudder. 



The horse is naturally a very nervous animal, 

 and therefore the person who attempts to control 



G 



