320 rahey's horse-taming. 



it is bv obedience. Third^ an interest in^ or ambition for ^ the 

 labors to be performed : the last is most clearly seen in 

 the eagerness of the nobler bloods for the race, the chase, 

 or even for the battle. 



The means which are adopted for accomplishing this are 

 — First^ familiarity with the presence of man under circum- 

 stances which convince him of man's kind intentions. A 

 colt accustomed to be handled and kindly treated, will be 

 easily trained to the harness, or at least rendered in some 

 degree manageable when grown. Second^ some system 

 which shall demonstrate to the horse the superiority of 

 man, and his power to overcome him physically. Of this 

 we have instances in the capture and subduing of wild 

 elephants in India, of wild horses on the plains of Amer- 

 ica, and it has been the method of breaking refractory 

 horses, in all times and among various nations. The 

 mounting by a strong rider, who holds the painful thong or 

 bit in the mouth of the horse, and urges him to his 

 greatest endeavors to remove his burden, until, weary and 

 exhausted with vain efforts, he is submissive, is a process 

 long known to savage and civilized horsemanship. Sub- 

 sequently the horse must gradually be made to understand 

 the language of words and signals by which his master 

 would communicate to him his wishes, and the training is 

 complete. 



We must not, however, overlook one all-important ele- 

 ment whicli has not often been taken into account, and 

 never fully explained — the magnetic influence which a fear- 

 less man has overall inferior animals"; an influence much 

 stronger in some persons than in others. It is vrell known 

 that all animals, even those most wild and ferocious, 

 instinctively regard man with feelings different from those- 

 exhibited toward other beings; and although they meet 

 him for the first time, in their own haunts, where they 



