48 THEORY OF HORSE-CONTROL. 



and handled with impunity, merely by " shouting at " 

 them, and terrified ones rendered tranquil by a few gentle 

 words. To obtain the full effect of the voice, we should, 

 while employing it, utilise the principle of association of 

 ideas. As cases in point, I may mention teaching horses 

 to halt (see page 195), and to stand steady (see page 346). 

 As suggested on page 38, we should avoid wearying the 

 attention of the animal by needlessly speaking to him. In 

 fact, we should reserve the use of our voice for occasions 

 on which it is needed to produce a definite effect. 



Emulation and imitation. — In breaking, emulation may 

 often be useful by, for instance, infusing " life " into a lazy 

 pupil by "company." We find the benefit of imitation 

 when a frisky youngster, on being put into double-harness, 

 copies the staid demeanour of a well-broken companion. 

 In giving a " reluctant " horse a lead over a fence, both 

 these influences come into play. 



The effect of imitation is particularly well seen in young 

 horses, who love to copy the actions of their companions. 

 When riding in company, I have frequently noticed the 

 newly-broken colt or filly imitate the tricks or peculiarities 

 of those near her. For instance, if a companion has the 

 habit of throwing up his head, or boring it down, she will 

 probably try to follow suit ; though she will be more than 

 usually circumspect in her demeanour when restricted to 

 the society of a steady old horse. I recognise this prin- 

 ciple so fully that I make a point of not having young 

 horses which I am breaking-in, ridden in the company of 

 unsteady ones. 



