TAMING HORSES. 127 



him slowly, with both arms stationary, your right 

 hanging by your side, holding the whip as directed 

 and the left bent at the elbow, with your hand 

 projecting. As you approach him, go not too much 

 towards his head or croup, so as not to make him 

 move either forward or backward, thus keeping 

 your horse stationary; if he does move a little 

 either forward or backward, step a little to the 

 right or left very cautiously ; this will keep him in 

 one place. As you get very near him, draw a 

 little to his shoulder, and stop a few seconds. ' If 

 you are in his reach he will turn his head and 

 smell your hand, not that he has any preference 

 for your hand, but because that is projecting, and 

 is the nearest portion of your body to the horse. 

 This all colts will do, and they will smell your na- 

 ked hand just as quickly as they will anything 

 that you can put in it, and with just as good an 

 effect, however much some men have preached the 

 doctrine of taming horses by giving them the scent 

 of articles from the hand. I have already proved 

 th-at to be a mistake. As soon as he touches his 

 nose to your hand, caress him as before directed, 

 always using a very light soft hand, merely touch- 

 ing the horse, always rubbing the way the hair 

 lies, so that your hand will pass along as smoothly 

 as possible. As you stand by 'his side, you may 

 find it more convenient to rub his neck or the side 



