CHAPTER IX. 53 



calming him down and not forcing him to be 

 still. Long stretches, rather than frequent 

 turns, calm horses down, and leisurely riding 

 for a good while soothes, calms down, and 

 does not rouse the spirit of the horse of 

 mettle. But if anybody expects to calm 

 such a horse down by tiring him out with 

 riding swiftly and far, his supposition is just 

 the reverse of the truth; these are exactly 

 the circumstances in which the high-mettled 

 horse tries to carry the day by main force, 

 and in his wrath, like an angry man, he often 

 does much irreparable harm to himself and 

 his rider. A high-mettled horse must be 

 kept from dashing on at full speed, and 

 utterly prevented from racing with another; 

 for, as a rule, remember, the most ambitious 

 horses are the highest-mettled. 



Smooth bits 5° are more suitable for such 

 horses than rough ; but if a rough one is put 

 in, it must be made as easy as the smooth 

 by lightness of hand. It is well also to get 

 into the habit of sitting quiet, especially on a 

 high-mettled horse, and utterly to avoid touch- 

 ing him with any other part than those which 

 we use in securing a firm seat. You must 



