130 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



with most horses, and that we do not leave them 

 to their own devices as often as we should. They 

 all have ideas about the best way to accomplish a 

 task, and are entitled to an opportunity to demon- 

 strate their theories. 



It is for this reason that a woman, when she drives 

 really well, is a better driver than any man. She 

 lets her horses alone more ; gives them more free- 

 dom ; takes it for granted that they know their busi- 

 ness. A man immediately begins to bully a horse. 

 He wants him to turn upon the spot he selects and 

 in the style he fancies. Failing this, he resorts 

 to force, and not infrequently ends by finding the 

 trouble he has sought. 



The fundamental principle of driving or of riding 

 is never to ask a movement of a horse unless you 

 have conveyed to him by a delicate manipulation of 

 the bit and reins the intelligence that you are about 

 to require motion of him. This applies to starting, 

 stopping, turning, backing, and every movement 

 possible to the animal. Its conveyance is so subtle 

 as to be almost automatic, electric, what you will. 



