38 TAMING HORSES. 



with equal facility. Then touch, in the same light 

 manner, making your hands and fingers play 

 around the bottom or lower part of the horse's ears, 

 coming down, now and then, to his forehead, which 

 may be looked upon as the helm that governs all 

 the. rest. Having succeeded in handling his ears, 

 advance towards the neck with the same precau- 

 tions, and in the same manner ; observing always 

 to augment the force of the strokes, whenever the 

 horse will permit it. Perform the same on both 

 sides of the neck, till he lets you take it in your 

 arms without flinching. Proceed in the same pro- 

 gressive manner to the sides, and then to the back 

 of the horse. Every time the horse shows any un- 

 easiness, return immediately to the forehead, as the 

 true standard, patting him with your hands, and 

 from thence rapidly to where you had already ar- 

 rived; always gaining ground, a considerable dis- 

 tance fi;rther on, every time this happens. The 

 head, ears, neck and body being thus gentled, pro- 

 ceed from the back to the root of the tail. This 

 must be managed with dexterity, as a horse is never 

 to be depended upon that is skittish about the tail. 

 Let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that 

 part next to the body a minute or two, and then 

 you will begin to give it a slight pull upwards 

 every quarter of a minute. At the same time, you 

 continue this handling of him, augmenting the 



