46 The Horse Farrier. 



rustic of the lowest class ; his occupation, horse-breaking-. The 

 nickname of 'Whisperer' he acquired from the vulgar notion of 

 his being able to comaiuuicate to the animal what he wished by- 

 means of a whisper, and the singularitj of his method seemed in 

 some degree to justify the attribute. In his own neighborhood, 

 the notoritj of the fact made it seem less remarkable, but I doubt 

 if anj instance of similar subjugating talent is to be fo'-nd on 

 record. ^ As far as the sphere o\' his control extended, the boast of 

 venif vidi, vici, was more justly claimed by Sullivan than by 

 Cesar himself." How Sullivan acquired the art. and in what 

 it consisted, will be forever unknown, as he died in 1810, without 

 divulging it. 



Of the first two mentioned — , the Moor and the Jumper, — 

 their skill doubtless lay in manual strength, as it was often no- 

 ticed that, after an interview with the animal practiced upon, both 

 horse and experimenter were entirely exhausted. Sullivan 

 performed with wondrous celerity, — his movements were secret, 

 but without apparent coercion. Every description of horse or 

 mule, whether previously broken or unhandled. whatever their 

 peculiar vices or habits might have been, submitted without show 

 of resistance to the magical influence of his art. and in the short 

 space of half an hour became gentle and tractable, and the effect 

 seemed to be durable. 



We come now to the horse-tamer of the present day, J. S. 

 Rarey, who has performed such astonishing feats, and created 

 such excitement and interest as was never before known in this 

 country or England. In the opening of his process, he says : — 

 '•The one principle which you must establish firmly in your mind, 

 and which is so essential in horse-taming that it is almost the 

 corner stone of the theory, is the law of kindness. Next to 

 kindness you must have patience, and next to patience indomitable 

 peiseverance. In a natural state he is afraid of man, and never, 

 until )'0u teach him that you do not intend to hurt him, will that 

 fear cease — we mean that wild, natural fear — for you must have 

 him fear you as well as love you. before you can absorb his attention 

 as much as is uecessary to break him to your liking." 



"The horse, according to the best accounts xve can gather, has 

 been the constant servant of man for nearly four thousand years, 

 ever rewarding hira with his labor, and adding to his comfort 

 in proportion to his skill and manner of using him j but being, to 

 those who govern him by brute force, and know nothing of the 

 beauty and delight to be gained from the cultivation of his finer 

 nature, a fretful, Ticioos, and often dangerous servant ; while to 



