94 Soothings, Animations, Etc 



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The voice and the hand, the leg, and the whole 

 body, may be employed to soothe and encourage. 

 High-mettled or fretful horses, it is often neces- 

 sary to soothe, and timid ones to encourage. A 

 spirited animal is frequently impatient when first 

 mounted, or, if a horse or a carriage pass him at 

 a quick rate ; and some horses are even so ardent 

 and animated, as to be unpleasant to ride when 

 with others. In either of these cases, the rider 

 should endeavor to soothe her horse, by speaking 

 to him in a calm, gentle tone. She should suffer 

 the whip to be as motionless as possible, and take 

 even more than usual care that its lash do not 

 touch the flank. Her seat should be easy, her leg 

 still, and her bridle-hand steady. The bit should 

 not be made to press on the horse's mouth with 

 greater severity than is necessary to maintain the 

 rider's command; and, as the horse gradually 

 subsides from his animation, its bearing should be 

 proportionately relaxed. The perfection of sooth- 



