246 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



to the beginning of the nineteenth century the 

 remainder of Europe paid very little attention to 

 the early handling of horses, and most people in 

 England are still much behindhand in the matter. 

 Doubtless the openness of the country, which ad- 

 mitted of the colt running practically wild, in- 

 creased the difficulties in days gone by. 



The evils resulting from the neglect of early 

 handling in the past induced trainers to try to over- 

 come them by cruelty to the horse. Starving, the 

 twitch, bleeding, tying the tail down, putting shot 

 into the ears, drugging, and sewing the ears 

 together were amongst the tortures resorted to to 

 obtain mastery. The Duke of Newcastle, thougTi 

 he did not advocate such practices, wrote that " the 

 horse is such a cunning creature in his opposition 

 to man that he should be ruled by fear." 



Nolan, quoting from a work published in 1664, 

 gives an example of how equine intelligence and 

 friendship to man were treated three hundred years 

 ago. A Neapolitan called Pietro, who possessed a 

 pony that would lie down, kneel and perform other 

 tricks at his bidding, was burnt with his pony after 

 giving a performance at Aries, the people being 



