TO GOVERN HORSES. 33 



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 naked 

 hand just as quickly as they will of anything that you 

 can put in it, and with just as good an effect, how- 

 ever much some men have preached the doctrine of 

 taming horses by giving them the scent of articles 

 from the hand. I have already proved that 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 touching 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 con- 

 venient to rub his neck or the side of his head, 

 which will answer the same purpose as rubbing his 

 forehead. Favour every inclination of the torse to 



