14 'i'HK HORSE : ITS TAMING, 



machine is totally unlike its twin brother, the artificially 

 constructed one, which has nodiffcrence of temperament, 

 and when once the mechanism and component parts are 

 understood and the motive powerregulated accordingto 

 present requirements, little or no judgment is needed 

 in its handling, everything being purely mechanical ; 

 but in the horse, the animated viac/ii/ie, we have one 

 with a natural motive power, which he may use either 

 to his owner's benefit or detriment. I do not believe 

 that vice in the horse is hereditary. I quite believe 

 that temperament, or disposition is, but certainly not 

 actual vice ; it is only when the colt is brought into 

 contact wTth man that either through ignoraiice, or 

 abuse, vice develops. Now to explain the natural 

 laws of the horse. It is gregarious in nature, hence in 

 riding young animals always ride them alone, as by 

 once getting a colt to ride always alongside another, 

 it is difficult to get it to go alone. It is natural in 

 a horse to follow an}- moving object, even one of 

 which it is afraid, but when that object comes near, 

 it immediately clears as fast as possible, and if that 

 object was suddenly brought behind, the animal 

 would kick and run away. I have frequently noticed 

 when riding in the Australian bush, two or three 

 of us together, when coming across a mob of wild 

 horses they would turn and follow us for miles, but let 

 one of us turn and ride towards tJieni and they 

 are off. We turn again and go on, they turn and 



