The Nerves. 65 



as familiarity with the circumstances has 

 taught us that the danger is imaginary. 

 Now there can be no doubt that the danger 

 which a skilful horseman incurs by riding a 

 restive horse is, except in very extraordinary 

 cases, almost entirely imaginary ; and a skilful 

 horseman will therefore^ as a general rule, 

 acquire nerve by becoming accustomed to ride 

 restive horses. 



Still you must remember that a general 

 rule may easily be far from an invariable one. 

 The force which a restive horse can exert for 

 the purpose of overpowering his rider is some- 

 times very great. If you have presence of 

 mind enough to sit and manage him as coolly 

 as in his ordinary paces, you will baffle his 

 efforts with ease. But if you allow yourself 

 to be startled out of your position on his back 

 and your command of his mouth, you may 

 easily be unseated or run away with. The 

 discouragement naturally caused by such an 

 accident will, of course, greatly retard your 

 progress in horsemanship. You must, there- 

 fore, in order to acquire with quickness and 

 certainty the art of riding restive horses, 

 commence your practice under circumstances 

 F 



