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CHAPTER 11. 



THEORY OF HORSE - CONTROL. 



Objects and scope of horse-breaking — Requirements in the breaker — 

 —Desirability of early training — Gaining the horse's attention — 

 Accustoming a horse to his surroundings — Making a horse under- 

 stand our orders — Punishment and reward — Effect of the voice — 

 Emulation and imitation — Fatigue — Necessity for exacting im- 

 plicit obedience from the horse — Safety in breaking — Rapid 

 methods of breaking — On the possibility of overcoming any form 

 of vice — Personal influence in breaking — Advisability of possessing 

 various methods of breaking — Selection of breaking methods — 

 Permanency in the effects of breaking — Summary of the principles 

 of making horses docile. 



In this chapter I shall limit myself chiefly to the theory 

 of making horses quiet and obedient, without special refer- 

 ence to the formation of " mouth " and paces, which I shall 

 consider in Chapter III. 



Objects and scope of horse-breaking. — The objects of 

 horse-breaking are : (i) to make the animal quiet, both in 

 and out of the stable ; (2) to teach him to obey the orders 

 of his rider or driver with promptness and precision ; and 

 (3) to establish in him the habit of applying his powers to 

 the best advantage. 



The scope of breaking is wider than might generally be 



D 



