Mind-power Horsemanship 245 



between man and beast; and (3) the power of control is 

 the same in both cases. 



This brings us to another point purposely omitted until 

 now, namely, that while a person or a horse may be will- 

 ing to be acted upon, the person seeking to control him 

 must be desirous of doing so. In all hypnotic demonstra- 

 tions there must be harmony, accord, or what the French 

 term rapport. Further, this power, or desire, ( i ) exists in 

 every person to a greater or less degree; (2) it is, like 

 other faculties of the mind or body, subject to cultivation 

 or development, and, like them, increases with use; (3) its 

 manifestation is in a degree proportionate to the will of the 

 one or the faith or confidence of the other. 



I shall not attempt to advance any evidence to sustain 

 the theory of mind power in the case of man and man, as 

 that is universally admitted. As to the power of control 

 of man over animals, I may be pardoned for stating a few 

 facts that have come under my observation. I once had 

 for a stud-groom a North-of-Ireland man, Peters by name. 

 He had very heavy hands and his seat was something 

 shocking, on account of which I seldom permitted him to 

 mount a colt or hunter. When, however, he did go out, 

 I was always struck with the fact that he brought his horse 

 home in better condition than any other groom I ever had. 

 During all the years he was in my employ, I doubt if he 

 ever struck one of the twelve stallions which during that 

 time were under his entire charge. One of them, Mac- 

 beth, a thoroughbred, was, as I learned after he came into 

 my possession, a man-killer. He had killed one stable-man, 

 and several others had had very narrow escapes from his 



