157 



never actually realises that the rider has been off 

 him. Nothing- conquers a horse so thoroughly as 

 when thrown, the more so when he finds he cannot 

 rise, and that he can be punished without being- able 

 in any great degree to resist. This method, then, as 

 will readily be seen, requires great dexterity and 

 readiness of thought to act. Indeed, all the items 

 mentioned as necessary when the horse is hanging 

 in the balance are the work of a moment, and re- 

 quire to be executed simultaneously, because if these 

 measures were brought to bear upon the horse a 

 moment too soon, in all probability the rider would 

 pull him back over on the top of him ; and if applied 

 on the other hand a moment too late, the opportun- 

 ity would be lost. The rider would almost be sure 

 to fall awkwardly, and before he could collect himself 

 and rush to the head of the horse, the latter would 

 be on his feet again. In all likelihood the horse 

 would gallop triumphantly away, leaving his rider 

 further from conquering him than ever. 



RESULTS OF THE SYSTEM. 



Some readers may imagine that such a system 

 is dangerous, and so it undoubtedly is if the per- 

 former lacks any of the qualifications named as 

 essential. When the rider is possessed of them, 

 however, there is comparatively little real danger 

 when everything is done at the right time with 

 courage and expedition. Almost in all cases this 

 method will prove a complete cure, at least a horse 



