14 THE MIND OF THE HORSE 



punishment. He yields to the force exercised on 

 him only if we succeed in inspiring him with 

 much fear on the side on which he desires to go. 

 When influenced b}' fright he may try to defend 

 himself by kicking and biting. 



Like all animals he seeks pleasure and flees 

 from pain. He seeks the satisfaction of his natural 

 wants and of his instincts. The fact of his being 

 under the influence of his instincts must not be 

 attributed to him as a fault. We must seek to 

 dominate him by preventing and guarding him 

 against circumstances and situations which may 

 call them into play and excite him. 



When he is not afraid or ill-tempered he feels 

 pleasure on being caressed and stroked with the 

 hand, particularly on the top of the head, on the 

 neck, on the eyes, and this is a means of indu- 

 cing him to regard us as friends and do as we 

 desire. 



He is afraid of falling ; therefore, if he stumbles, 

 he moves with energy for some time after and if 

 he falls makes efforts to rise. He becomes easilv 

 disccniraged however and if, after he has fallen, he 



