EXPERIMENT YVITH THE EOBE. 43 



hard and cutting ; this makes him raise his head and 

 draw on it, and as soon as he pulls, the slip noose (the 

 v/ay rope halters are always made) tightens, and pinches 

 his nose, and then he will struggle for life, until, per- 

 chance, he throws himself; and who would have his 

 horse throw himself, and run the risk of breaking his 

 neck, rather than pay the price of a leather halter ? But 

 this is not the worst. A horse that has once 2)ulled on his 

 halter can never he as u'ell broken as one that has never 

 pulled at all. 



But before we attempt to do anything more with the 

 colt, I will give you some of the characteristics of his 

 nature, that you may better understand his motions. 

 Every one that has ever paid any attention to the horse, 

 has noticed his natural inclination to smell everything 

 which to him looks new and frightful. This is their 

 strange mode of examining everything. And when they 

 are frightened at anything, though they look at it 

 sharply, they seem to have no confidence in their eye- 

 sight alone, but must touch it with their nose before 

 they are entirely satisfied ; and, as soon as they have 

 done that, all seems right. 



EXPERIMENT WITH THE EOBE. 



If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic 

 of the horse, and to learn something of importance con- 

 cerning the peculiarities of his nature, &c., turn him into 

 the barn-yard, or a large stable will do, and then gather 

 up something that you know will frighten him — a red 

 blanket, buffalo robe, or something of that kind. Hold 

 it up so that he can see it, he will stick up his head and 

 snort. Then throw it down somewhere in the centre of 

 the lot or barn, and walk off to one side. Watch his 



