Establishing New Habits 247 



Of all the kinds of vice, treachery and stubbornness 

 are the most difficult to overcome, as animals pos- 

 sessing them often deliberately oppose our efforts. 

 Vice due to nervousness or impatience can be readily 

 overcome, as the cause soon passes away. Vice due 

 to excessive sexual excitement is often very difficult 

 to overcome. Castration or spaying is the most 

 efficient means for overcoming vice from sexual 

 causes. Very rarely, one will meet with a vicious 

 horse which seems to have the source of viciousness 

 in an unsound mind. Such an animal, of course, can- 

 not be subdued. 



Since vice owes its origin to many and varied 

 causes, it is important to study each case to ascertain 

 the cause and, if possible, remove it. In overcoming 

 or subduing vice we must establish a new habit that 

 will have a stronger influence on the horse's mind 

 than the old one which impairs his usefulness. At 

 first it will be largely a question of supremacy, and 

 we must impress upon him that we are physically 

 and mentally superior. From the beginning we 

 must use such appliances as will give us the advan- 

 tage. This can be accomplished in two ways : first 

 by the employment of such appliances as will use 

 the animal's strength in overcoming him, and second 

 by the use of self-punishing harness, which will in- 

 flict the punishment at the instant he violates our 

 wish. He must be given to understand that he is 

 to obey us or suffer accordingly. Next we must 



