EFFECTS OF TEEATMENT. 385 



little treatment, seldom requiring more than twenty or 

 thirty minutes, be made so gentle as to submit even to 

 have the cross-piece come against the quarters, a test that 

 only horses of the very best character will bear. 



This is strikingly illustrated in the ease with which the 

 most stubborn horse can by a few minutes' treatment be 

 made, without the least restraint of halter or bridle, to fol- 

 low or run after the trainer with the docility and obedience 

 of a pet. It is also shown in the ease with which a nerv- 

 ous, excitable horse can be made indifferent to an object 



FIG. 265. Effect of good FIG. 266. Effect of bad 



influence:. influences. 



that had previously induced in him the greatest terror. But 

 it 13 mainly interesting as contrasting the facility and ease 

 with which even horses of extremely bad character can be 

 made entirely gentle when treated properly, with the diffi- 

 culty of doing it when the treatment is not right ; show- 

 ing conclusively that the main causes of trouble in the con- 

 trol and management of horses are ignorance and bad treat- 

 ment. 



Properly considered, the art of taming and teaching 

 horses consists in appealing to or acting upon the brain 

 most forcibly in the desired direction. This can be done 

 with great success, even without the use of much physical 



25 



