BABEY'S SYSTEM OF TAMING HORSES. 277 



the horse having been abused by ignorant grooms from 

 behind (where is the vicious horse that has not), natu- 

 rally fancies that, by dwelling, some harm is intended, 

 and at once proceeds to attack, or (as he supposes) to 

 defend himself. A man who strikes a horse, when his 

 head is tied to the rack, is invariably an ignorant, as 

 well as a cowardly fellow ; he generally uses a pitchfork 

 or broom-handle, sometimes a whip, and, while himself 

 standing out of danger, he frequently administers a dose 

 of punishment to the poor horse without the least pro- 

 vocation ; and thus it often happens that when others 

 approach them unthinkingly, with a walking-stick or 

 whip in their hand, they get kicked or bitten. 



It is contended by some gentlemen that Mr. Rarey's 

 system is worth nothing, unless i* vicious horse, after 

 being in the hands of a tamer, and made docile with him, 

 will submit to anything which his owner or conceited 

 grooms choose to impose upon him. But I ask any 

 reasonable man whether it is likely that a high-couraged 

 horse will suffer himself to be whipped and spurred by 

 his rider, bludgeoned on the legs and body with a broom- 

 handle, in the stable, and otherwise ill-treated (some- 

 times for past offences), without ever raising his 

 hoofs or opening his mouth in self-defence or retalia- 

 tion. 



Let me also ask what the system would be worth if 

 the horse stood all this unmerited abuse, without rebel- 

 lion ? and anticipate the answer which all practical 

 horsemen will make to the question, by saying, " not 



