TAMING HORSES. 39 



force of the strokes, as well as the raising of the 

 tail, till you can raise it and handle it with the 

 greatest ease, which commonly happens in a quar- 

 ter of an hour in most horses ; in others almost im- 

 mediately, and in some much longer. It now re- 

 mains to handle all his legs. From the tail come 

 back again to the head ; handle it well, as likewise 

 the ears, neck, breast, &c., speaking now and then 

 to the horse. Begin, by degrees, to descend to the 

 legs, always ascending and descending, gaining 

 ground every time you descend, till you get to his 

 feet. Talk to the horse in Latin, Greek, French, 

 English or Spanish, or in any other language you 

 please, but let him hear the sound of your voice, 

 which at the beginning of the operation is not quite 

 so necessary, but which I have always done in ma- 

 king him lift up his feet: — "Hold up your foot," 

 •' Leve le pied " — " Alza el pie " — " Aron ton poda," 

 &c., at the same time lift his foot with your hand. 

 He soon becomes familiar with the sounds, and 

 will hold up his foot at command. Then proceed 

 to the hind feet, and go on in the same manner; 

 and, in a short time, the horse will let you lift 

 them, and even take them up in your arms. All 

 this operation is no magnetism, no galvanism. It 

 is merely taking away the fear a horse generally 

 has of a man, and familiarizing him with him, as 

 the horse experiences a certain pleti^ure from this 



