TO DRIVE A VICIOUS HORSE. 51 



horse, for several reasons. First, there is a principle 

 of this kind in the nature of the horse : that by con- 

 quering one member you conquer to a great extent 

 the whole horse. 



You have perhaps seen men operate upon this 

 principle, by sewing a horse's ears together to prevent 

 him from kicking. I once saw a plan given in a 

 newspaper to make a bad horse stand to be shod, 

 which was to fasten down one ear. There were no 

 reasons given why you should do so ; but I tried it 

 several times, and thought that it had a good effect 

 though I would not recommend its use, especially 

 stitching his ears together. The only benefit arising 

 from this process is, that by disarranging his ears we 

 draw his attention to them, and he is not so apt to 

 resist the shoeing. By tying up one foot we pperate 

 on the same principle to a much better effect. When 

 you first fasten up a horse's foot he will sometimes 

 get very mad, and strike with his knee, and try every 

 possible way to get it down ; but he cannot do that, 

 and will soon give up. 



This will conquer him better than anything you 

 could do, and without any possible danger of hurting 

 himself or you either, for you can tie up his foot and 

 sit down and look at him until he gives up. When 

 you find that he is conquered, go to him, let down 

 his foot, rub his leg with your hand, caress him, and 

 let him rest a little ; then put it up again. Repeat 

 this a few times, always putting up the same foot, 

 B 2 



