THE MIND OF THE HORSE 11 



The frequent repetition of the act of touching 

 diminishes and finally may remove the irritation or 

 fear due to being touched, and may accustom the 

 horse to the act. 



Sensations are involuntary, the horse cannot 

 help experiencing them. He cannot help experien- 

 cing fear, the tickling sensation and the other 

 feelings called forth in him by objects. The effect 

 of these sensations may be diminished by repea- 

 ting the process of touching him very often and 

 by letting the animal see that the object which 

 inspires him with fear does him no harm. 



Aids and punishments should not be too often 

 repeated so that the horse may not become accu- 

 stomed to tliem, when they would fail of their 

 effect. Senses, sensitiveness and sensations are usual- 

 ly more powerful in a well-bred horse, as he is 

 more highly strung. 



Over-sensitiveness of the mouth results in it 

 being impossible to employ the horse with the bit 

 and at times even with the snaffle, and excessive 

 nervous excitability renders it impossible to main- 

 tain masterv over the animal, as it results in his 



