62 TAMING HORSES. 



before him, very nigh. Handle him in the fore- 

 head, and hold the gun in one of your hands. Go 

 on thus progressively, till you can load and fire it 

 off over his head, with as heavy a charge as you 

 wish to put in it, which you will be able to do in 

 about two or three hours. When you have gone 

 thus far, run suddenly up to him, Avith your gun 

 in your hand. Handle him in the forehead, holding 

 it still in your hand. Exercise him well in this way, 

 till he does not flinch or show any signs of fear, when 

 you thus approach him. Now, you suppose the 

 work to be completed? If you do, you are very 

 much mistaken; for you must recollect, that he 

 has much to unlearn. Take away Fear — Inspire 

 Confidence — Familiarize — are three great lessons 

 to be taught, in the art of gentling a wild horse; 

 and, to bring a rebellious horse to obedience, you 

 must add, Unlearn. Repeat the same, unlearn, 

 &c., till he is completely gentle. 



Now give your horse a plenty to eat and drink. 

 I suppose it to be about ten o'clock. Let him rest, 

 if he will. Repeat your lessons at four o'clock in 

 the afternoon, more or less rapidly, according as 

 he is inclined to obey them. Feed him at night ; 

 let him remain in the pen all night. Next day, 

 go over the same exercise ; at the end of which, if 

 you think him sufficiently docile, take him out of 

 the pen, and go through the same exercise that 



