264 PRECEPT AND PRACTICE. 



might do, will probably alarm a horse new to 

 harness. He rushes forward, is checked by the 

 traces, then backs himself suddenly, is then 

 checked by the pole-piece and collar, feels 

 himself hampered in every way, gets alarmed 

 or angry. Here, probably, is "the devil to pay" 

 again. 



It will be found that brute force or brutal vio- 

 lence rarely succeeds or produces the desired 

 effect with horses, or, indeed, with any animal. 

 Brute force subdued Van Amburg's lions, but it 

 did not tame them. They were too much subdued 

 to attack him while his eye was on them, but if 

 he had turned his back they would have pulled 

 him down, and torn him to pieces. Brute force 

 may compel a horse to do a particular act at the 

 time — it may even make him fear to commit one 

 at variance with our safety ; but let opportunity 

 occur, we should soon find that fear alone will 

 never eradicate a bad propensity. 



I remember in something I have written to have 

 warned persons from purchasing a horse that has 



