40 KAREY ON HORSE-TAMING. 



more tliaii ten or fifteen minutes. Usually, at the 

 end of eight minutes' violent strug<i;les, the animal 

 sinks forward on his knees, SAveating profusely, 

 with heaving flanks and shaking tail. If he still 

 resists he may be forced by the bit to walk back- 

 wards and forwards, but this is generally unneces- 

 sary, as by pushing gently at his shoulder, or b 

 pulling steadily the ofF-reirt»- you can get him to fall, 

 in the one case on the near side, in the other on the 

 off side ; but this assistance should be so slight that 

 the horse will not attempt to resist it. The horse 

 will often make a final spring when you think he is 

 q^uite beaten ; but at length he slides over, and lies 

 down, panting and exhausted, on his side. If he is 

 a pretty spirited animal, take advantage of the mo- 

 ment to tie up the off fore-leg to the surcingle, as 

 securely as the other, in a slip-loop knot. 



Now let your horse recover his wind, and then 

 encourage him to make a second fight. It will often 

 be more stubborn and more fierce than the first. 

 The object of this tying-up operation is, that he shall 

 thoroughly exhaust without hurting himself, and that 

 he shall come to the conclusion that it is you who, 

 by your superior strength, have conquered him, and 

 that you are always able to conquer him. 



Under the old rough-ridinm system^ the most vi- 

 cious horses were occasionall^^onquered by daring 

 men with fi.rm seats and stron^^rms, who rode and 

 flogged them into subjection ; but these conquests 

 Were temporary, and usudllj personal ; with every 

 Btxanger, the inimal worJd begin his game again. 



