THE MIND OF THE HORSE 65 



resigns himself to obedience forthwith, and is con- 

 trolled by the aid of this feeling of obedience. The 

 body or mechanism of the horse renders ns service 

 if the horse's mind directs it to do so. It is im- 

 possible to obtain service from the body if the 

 mind is unwilling to command it. A good will or 

 a good disposition is the first quality required to 

 obtain useful service from the horse, as in order 

 to render this service he must be alloA\ ed freedom ; 

 he cannot do it like a galley slave with the hands 

 whilst his feet are fettered. 



If he is well disposed and obedient, and willing 

 by nature, he will serve us of his own accord, even 

 if the structure of his body is such as not to allow 

 of his being collected and thus actually coerced 

 to do so. If he has a bad disposition, even the 

 various coercive means will not avail to render 

 him serviceable, owing to his unwillingness. 



With a bad disposition all tlie other good (|ua- 

 lities of agility, strength, and power of resistance 

 remain useless to us as he will not place them at 

 our service. A horseman of little ability is safe 

 upon a horse of a good disposition, and a horse- 



