Mind-power Horsemanship 247 



the part of the old mare, but none of them except that of 

 the mind of the rider or driver's having some influence over 

 her action fits all the circumstances. With this suggestion, 

 I began one day to go over my experience in the saddle, and 

 the education of colts and the schooling of hunters, and I 

 came to the conclusion that this mind-power theory gives the 

 only satisfactory answer to many knotty problems concern- 

 ing horses and horsemanship. For instance, in hunting it 

 is everywhere noticeable that, when ridden by some men, 

 horses that are only soft green things or colts come out 

 of a run in remarkably fresh condition as compared with 

 some old seasoned hunters that are, as they say in England, 

 "as hard as nails." Some heavy men, those who, for 

 example, ride at a hundred and eighty or two hundred 

 pounds, bring their horses in comparatively fresher than 

 those ridden by lighter men and better riders. I am per- 

 suaded that this better condition after a hard run cannot be 

 accounted for by hands or seat. Again, it is the experience 

 of some riders that they can ride a horse through a severe 

 run with the least possible fatigue to themselves. I have 

 always been rather shy about saying it, because it seemed 

 contrary to reason ; but I am going to say it now : I can 

 ride a horse fifty, sixty, or even seventy miles in a day, 

 which shall include a run to hounds, and not feel more 

 fatigued at the end than from a ride of ten, twelve, or 

 eighteen miles in a carriage; and I find now and then a 

 person who reports a similar experience. I believe this is 

 owing to a mutual compensation between rider and horse. 

 I have also remarked that when I watch a run from a 

 carriage I go home quite worn out. I help, in imagina- 



