oECRETS OF HORSE TAMING. 19 



horse belongs to that class which appears only to fear man, you 

 must Introduce yourself gently into the stable, room, or yard, 

 where the horse is. He will naturally run from you, and fre- 

 quently turn his head from you; for you must walk about 

 extremely slow and softly, so that he can see you whenever he 

 turns his head toward you, which he never fails to do in a short 

 time, say in a quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to be 

 much longer without turning toward me. 



At the very moment he turns his head, hold out your hand 

 toward him, and stand perfectly still, keeping your eyes upon 

 the horse, watching his motions, if he makes any. If the 

 horse does not stir for ten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly 

 as possible, and without making the least noise, always holding 

 out your left hand, without any other ingredient in ft than what 

 nature put in it. I have made use of certain ingredients before 

 people, such as the sweat under my arm, etc., to disguise the 

 real secret and many believed that the docility to which the 

 horse arrived in so short a time was owing to these ingredients ; 

 but you see from this explanation that they were of no use 

 whatever. The implicit faith placed in these ingredients, 

 though innocent of themselves, becomes ^' faith without works." 

 And thus men always remained in doubt concerning the secret. 

 If the horse makes the least motion when you advance toward 

 him, stop, and remain perfectly still until he is quiet. Remain 

 a few mouiL^nts in this condition, and then advance again in the 

 ■same slow and almost imperceptible manner. Take notice, if 

 the horse stirs, stop, without changing your position. It is 

 very uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you 

 begin to advance, yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps 

 his eyes steadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch 

 him on the forehead. When you are thus near to him, raise 

 your hand slowly and by degrees, and let it come in contact 

 with that part just above the nostrils as lightly as possible. 

 If the horse flinches (as many will,) repeat with great rapidity 

 these light strokes upon the forehead, going a little farther up 

 toward his ears by degrees, and descending with the same 

 rapidity until he will let you handle his forehead all over. Now 

 let the strokes bo repeated with more force all over his forehead, 

 descending by lighter strokes to each side of his Jiead, until you 

 can handle that part with equal facility. Then touch in the 

 same light manner, making your hands and fingers play around 

 the lower part of the horse's ears, coming down now and then 

 to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the helm that 

 goveiTiS all the rest. 



Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance toward the 



