SECRETARY'S REPORT. 215 



stand the meaning of language, and of course should be dealt 

 with very patiently. The instructor should be very careful to 

 teach but one thing at a time, and to employ no harsh words 

 nor punishment until quite certain that his pupil comprehends 

 distinctly the thing required and is able to perform it. 



The first step in the education of any animal is to gain his 

 confidence, so that he has no wildness through fear that he 

 may be injured. "When young, all animals are easily tamed by 

 gentle treatment, handling and feeding with such things as 

 they particularly fancy. The young of domesticated animals 

 are much less inclined to be suspicious of man than those of 

 wild animals, and if properly treated would never need any 

 training. But it often happens that colts, for example, are 

 never handled until old enough to break, and are therefore 

 afraid of almost everything; and the first, most troublesome, 

 and most important part of their education, is to secure their 

 entire confidence, and this should be accomplished in the 

 kindest and most quiet manner possible. 



The common expression, " breaking a colt," has obvious 

 reference to a very different practice from that to be recom- 

 mended in this chapter. Instead of attempting to allay the 

 natural alarm of the wild colt, the usual method is to secure 

 him with a rope after an exciting chase, and permit him to pull 

 and plunge until the fastening gives way, his neck breaks, or 

 he becomes so exhausted as to give up the contest for the time. 

 Then a reckless rider mounts him with whip and spur, render- 

 ing him almost frantic with fear and torture. After a violent 

 struggle, in which perhaps he throws his rider and very likely 

 himself, he is relieved of this torment to undergo another. He 

 is enveloped in a harness as in a net and securely attached to a 

 wagon, with one or two men at his head and one holding the 

 reins. He knows nothing of the ol)jcct in thus entangling him, 

 and has no confidence in man, and being ignorant of bits and 

 collars and horse-talk, when told to go of course does not obey; 

 then he is whipped for his stupidity in not understanding 

 English, which is taken for obstinacy ; then he attempts to rush 

 forward, but is checked by a violent pull on the bit, and in his 

 despair either runs back and throws himself down and is for- 

 ever after balky, or kicks and clears himself, which he will 

 never forget, or makes another more desperate struggle to go 



