46 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



essential to their control and safe use, and the term 

 " breaking " (which always seems to imply brutality 

 at some period and abusive measures to overcome a 

 resistance which, if unprovoked, is rarely offered) 

 would never have been applied to the process. 

 Man's presence should never be associated with any- 

 thing unpleasant, but always with tender care, pro- 

 gressive instruction, and performance, which the 

 pupil, by reward of food and caress of hand (never 

 of voice), understands to be satisfactory. 



A quiet and leisurely moving groom is invaluable 

 around young horses; a trainer would be better if 

 he were dumb, or always firmly gagged before he 

 began his duties. Two words he will probably need 

 to use, "Whoa!" and "Cl'k!" "Back" is also 

 permissible, although by no means essential, and 

 when the education is complete, " the student gradu- 

 ated," he will be a better and more lively horse if 

 he never again hears any word but " Whoa ! " and 

 that rarely and only when meant to be instantly 

 obeyed. However green and awkward a colt may 

 be, if he understands that " Whoa! " means " stop " 



