102 ROTTEX ROW. 



often pronounced vicious dangerous brutes by the first stranger 

 who gets on them, and goes over their head at the first unexpected 

 stop, or over tlieir tail at the first sudden bound forward. The 

 too eager and willing slave that has only been doing what he 

 has been taught by a better, and better loved master, now comes 

 in for torrents of abuse, whip and spur, for daring to stop, 

 bound, turn, and guide for signals which his new master does 

 not understand. Of course, such teachable horses caii soon be 

 made dangerous by siicli illtreatment, but if their new owners 

 only had the sense and patience to investigate the cause of 

 movements they do not comprehend, such tractable animals 

 might soon be made to learn any new set of signals and to 

 become almost equally valuable to their new owners. 



205. — 8«ch teaching, however, disqualifies a horse for a 

 constant change of riders, and, therefore, unless you are training 

 a horse for your own riding exclusively, all such re^nements in 

 his education are best avoided. It will often be only training a 

 gentle Uncle Tom for some brutal Legree to cut to pieces for his 

 very virtues. 



206. — There are, however, a large proportion of riders, and 

 even drivers, who appreciate a fine sensitive mouth, and enjoy 

 using only that delicate touch which is essential to its preser- 

 vation. This is a qualification demanded by the refined as 

 distinguished from the vulgar horseman, so that the value and 

 destiny of the horse will often depend much upon it. The most 

 beautiful sight in Rotten Row is a pair of well bred handsome 

 horses, full of health, life, and spirits, willing to trot at any 

 pace, without a touch from the merely ornamental whip, yet held 

 in even under excitement, by a lady's hand, without an effort, 

 and without imparting a lean to the gracefid figure of their 

 driver. It is this perfection of mouth that every teacher should 

 endeavour to obtain in a light horse, and it can only be main- 

 tained ])y careful gentle handling of the sensitive mouth from the 

 first. 



Indeed, such a mouth, combined with such free motion, 

 such courage, confidence, and cheerful spirit, is the sui'est indica- 

 tion that the horse has been well handled from first to last. 



