270 THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



horse; therefore, the proper method is by suggestion, rather 

 than by force. The execution of whatever act has its origin, so 

 far as the horse is concerned, in his brain, not his bra^\Ti ; so- that 

 is the logical headquarters through which to transmit instruc- 

 tions. If the orders, emanating from this centre, for execution 

 on the horse's o^^^l initiative, should happen to conflict with the 

 physical efforts of the rider or driver, tliere is liable to be a 

 rebellion in favor of the horse, who regards his o^^tl motive as 

 taking precedence. On the other hand, by suggesting to the 

 extent of bringing the horse to be of the' same mind as the driver, 

 there can be no conflict of orders, and most harmonious response 

 on the part of the horse results. 



Compare the horse which has been educated and driven by 

 the strong arm method, which requires a flogging to make-him go, 

 a man's weight to stop him, and two hands to pull him. round a 

 corner, with the possibility that he may conceive and carry out, 

 at any time, some fool notion which it is beyond the physical 

 power of man to check, with the thoroughly schooled horse re- 

 sponding to the light yet firm and strongly suggestive hand of 

 the master reinsman, who is able to stop, back, start, and drive 

 any place, without a word or even a perceptible twist of the wrist. 



Transmitting the Impulse to Act. — Xow that the principle 

 has been exposed, the system may be outlined. It may be sum- 

 marized in a consideration of hands and mouths. These are the 

 two essential factors in the system of control, ser\dng alternately 

 as transmitters and receivers. By means of the former, either 

 the instructions or demands in the mind of the driver are con- 

 veyed, by the medium of the reins, to the sensitive structiu'es 

 constituting the mouth of the horse ; to be forwarded after being 

 received through the sensory nerve-trunks to the brain of the 

 horse; thence the motor nei'ves convey the authorized instruc- 

 tions, as it were, to the proper parts for execution. Wliat 

 is here described at length and in detail is aceomplished in a 

 flash, but it is well to follow the actual transmission of an im- 

 pulse in order to appreciate good horsemanship. 



If we are to realize the most prompt and delicate response, 

 the horse must be taken and kept well in hand, so that, telegraph- 

 ically speaking, the line of transmission from hand to mouth 



