COERESPONDENCE. 297 



stood by the intelligent creature under control. 

 We do not half appreciate our horses. Every 

 touch of our fingers, every word we utter, 

 every glance from our eye is noted by the 

 horse, and is valued or resented as it deserves. 

 So many animals are made unruly by the 

 undue use of a severe curb that I strongly 

 advise a trial of the snafide only, holding the 

 curb-rein loosely over the httle finger, so that 

 it may be in an instant taken up in case it 

 prove necessary, which, in my opinion, it 

 rarely will. To illustrate my meaning, on 

 Monday last I rode a mare for a lady, who 

 was very desirous of ascertaining whether 

 the animal was capable of carrying a lady 

 with safety. The groom, who was to accom- 

 pany me, was evidently extremely nervous. 

 He told me, as we started, that the mare 

 had never done any saddle work, except with 

 a very wild young gentleman-rider, who Lad 

 bitted her severely, and yet found her diffi- 

 cult to manage ; and he implored me earnestly 

 to keep a good hold of the curb. I found 

 that she hung desperately upon her bridle, 

 kept her head between her knees with a 



