CHAPTER IX. 



THEORY OF HORSE EDUCATION. 



165. — Some forty-six years ago, we met, in Somersetshire, 

 a Mr. Josiah Hunt, a quaker, an athlete, a man of extraordinary 

 physical power and agility. We were told that he once saw a man 

 stealing his geese and gave him chase. On coming up to him the 

 thief proved a powerful man, who well understood the use of his 

 fists, so that Mr. Hunt had to abandon his peace principles for the 

 occasion, and to enter into a long-pitched battle with a very able 

 opponent, before he succeeded in getting him committed to 

 custody. After Mr. Hunt had given his evidence before the 

 magistrate, the latter was tempted to make the impertinent 

 remark, " I thought Mr. Hunt that Quakers did not fight ; " to 

 which Mr. Hunt instantly replied, " Let me catch thee stealing 

 my geese, I'll tell thee if Quakers don't fight." 



166. — After the goose stealer had been committed to prison, 

 Mr. Hunt's mother, who was a local Elizabeth Fry, undertook to 

 visit him, expecting to find as tough a subject in her line as her 

 son had found in his. But the moment she opened her soft fire 

 ■on the criminal he began to weep, and said, " I would rather fight 

 your son than talk to you." 



167. — Mr. Hunt had attacked the pugilist with his own 

 "weapons, and only succeeded because he was the stronger man. 

 Mrs. Hunt attacked him with weapons that he was wholly unpre- 

 pared to resist, and found him helpless as an infimt. 



168. — The horse's natural defence is kicking and striking. 

 He has few equals in that line, and no man could compete with 

 him for a moment. If you strike him it is quite natural that he 

 should strike you. He quite understands that business ; nothing 

 else you could have done would have been so much in his line ; 

 and you have foolishly provoked a battle in which you must be 

 worsted. 



