TRAINING. 305 



believe I wept for joy — and the best of it all was that I had 

 gained my victory without the horse having any suspicion 

 that he was conquered. If I had thrashed him into sub- 

 jection — allowing that such a thing were possible — he 

 might have obeyed me for awhile, although hating me — 

 but by dint of never using a particle of harshness, and 

 granting him his own time to make concessions, I am 

 firmly convinced that he considered himself the better 

 animal of the two, and was magnanimous enough to obey 

 me from chivalrous motives, w^hile believing that he need 

 not do so at all. 



After that day I had not any trouble with my charge, 

 and in less than a week I was riding him about the place 

 with only an ordinary bridle. He subsequently manifested 

 an extraordinary affection for me, and whether the system 

 that I pursued with regard to his taming was or was not 

 one of which ordinary horse-owners will be found to ap- 

 prove, I can only say that it succeeded to perfection, and 

 that I have seen it tried twice or thrice since, on my 

 recommendation, with excellent results ; but I never advise 

 the adoption of it, except in cases such as I have described, 

 where an animal has been rendered vicious by extreme 

 bad treatment, or has inherited a disposition for sullenness 

 and obstinacy which cannot otherwise be brought under 

 control. 



Before bringing this chapter to a close, I would wish to 

 add that a colt in his fifth year may be ridden once or 

 twice a week with harriers, or once with foxhounds, if the 

 meet be very near his stable — but he must never on any 



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