122 TAMING HORSES. 



off. But we know from experience, that if a horse 

 sees and smells a robe a short distance from him, 

 he is very much frightened (unless he is used to 

 it) until he touches or feels it with his nose ; which 

 is a positive proof that feeling is the controlling 

 sense in this case. 



PREVAILING OPINION OF HORSEMEN. 



It is a prevailing opinion among horsemen gene- 

 rally that the sense of smell is the governing sense 

 of the horse. And Faucher, as well as others, has 

 with that view got up receipts of strong smelling 

 oils, &c., to tame the horse, sometimes using the 

 chestnut of his leg, which they dry, grind into 

 powder, and blow into his nostrils, sometimes using 

 the oils of rhodium, origanum, &c., that are noted 

 for their strong smell ; and sometimes they scent 

 the hand with the sweat from under the arm, or 

 blow their breath into his nostrils, &c., &c. All 

 of which, as far as the scent goes, have no effect 

 whatever in gentling the horse, or conveying any 

 idea to his mind ; though the acts that accompany 

 these efforts — handling him, touching him about 

 the nose and head, and patting him, as they direct 

 you should, after administering the articles, may 

 have a very great effect, which they mistake to be 

 the effect of the ingredients used. And Faucher, 

 in his work, entitled " The Arabian Art of Taming 



