RESISTANCES OF THE HORSE. 71 



a regular gait ; so he suffers, loses his head, and runs 

 away. 



We will suppose the horse to be well-propor- 

 tioned, with his sight and organs in a normal con- 

 dition, his mouth only being hurt as a consequence, 

 not as a cause. I change the bit, and substitute an 

 easier one, treating the mouth meanwhile with salt, 

 or alum, or marsh-mallow ; and yet my horse still runs 

 away. In that case it is from one of two reasons : 

 either it is from memory and as a habit, or else it is 

 the result of ill-temper. If the former, I take him 

 to some spot where I can have plenty of space and 

 time, preferably a sea-beach with soft sand, or a large 

 ploughed field; and there I let him go, stopping when 

 he stops, and then making him go on again, and in 

 this way he soon learns that submission is the easiest 

 way for him. If he should be really ill-tempered, 

 I would mount him in the same place with sharp 

 spurs and a good whip, and before long his moral 

 condition would be much more satisfactory. 



But often a horse takes fright and runs away when 

 one least expects it. Allow me to say that nothing 

 which a horse can do should ever be unexpected. 

 On horseback one should be ready for emergencies; 

 and the best way to avoid them is to prevent the 

 horse from a dangerous initiative. Besides, the 

 horse does not get to his full speed at once ; and, if 

 the rider keeps calm, she will probably be able to 

 master him before he reaches it. But, if, in spite of 

 herself, her horse is running at a frightful pace, what 



