404 SUBJECTION. 



thing of which the horse is fond.'"'' Warts or ostlets, grow- 

 ing on the inside of a horde's leg, dried, and pulverized 

 with a coarse rasp or grater, and about a thimble full blown 

 into the nostrils, is also claimed to make any horse gentle. 

 This is to be used in connection with the oils mentioned. 

 The oil of parsley is sometimes used for the same purpose. 

 A few drops are put on the hands or handkerchief, and the 

 horse is allowed to smell of it. The perspiration from under 

 the arms, rubbed on the horse's nose, or breathed into the 

 nostrils from the hand, is also held as quite a secret for 

 making a horse so gentle that he will follow readily. 



Before and during the time of Rarey, parties under- 

 standing the secret of " throwing," usually managed as 

 follows : Force the horse to lie down on the barn floor until 

 submissiA'e ; and, while lying quietly, open the door and 

 allow the people to come in. Under such circumstances, 

 much curiosity will be manifested to discover what has 

 been done. The operator now, while pretending that he is 

 unobserved, will slip a jjiece of apple into the horse's 

 mouth, and rub the hand over the nose. This will of 

 course be observed, and when curiosity is sufficiently 

 aroused, the pretended tamer will say, " Yes ; I have a 

 secret scent by which any horse can be tamed, the effect 

 of which you see." Then he will offer to sell the secret, 

 naming a large price, but finally taking Avhat he can get. 

 I have found in my travels many who have paid from ten 

 to fifty dollars for the " Arabian secret." The control was 

 obtained by throwing. But this in itself being too simple 

 to inspire much faith, the medicine dodge was added. 



* Denton Offutt's book, ■which I have carefully read, and the best features of 

 which are given at the close of this cliapter, contains some secrets for taming 

 horses and olhcr animals, for the virtues of which he claims a great deal; but thc}' 

 .are practically cf no more consideration than other treatment of the same kind. 

 Still, I thought it advisable, and of sufficient interest to the curious, to copy them 

 verbatim, and they will be found embodied in this work. 



