CHAPTER X 

 REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS 



CARESSES and other rewards are the first means by 

 which the trainer makes the horse understand that 

 it has nothing to fear when under control. A horse 

 is by nature timid and anxious; the first step in its 

 training is to give it confidence and to make it 

 understand that it will meet no ill usage. When 

 that is accomplished, the horse is tamed. As yet, 

 however, it knows nothing. Its education advances 

 by means of rewards when it does well, and by 

 punishments when it fails to do something that it 

 has already been taught. 



Caressing may be done with the hand alone, or 

 with the voice, or by the two in conjunction. Early 

 in the training, it is better to employ both together, 

 so that each may help to make the other understood. 

 After the horse gets the idea, it is better to use only 

 one at a time. 



When the man is on foot, he commonly caresses 

 the horse by passing his hand over the forehead be- 

 low the forelock, always in the direction of the hair. 

 But the horse should become accustomed to caress- 

 ing on other parts of the body neck, shoulders, 

 loins, abdomen, haunches, and legs. The fingers 

 should be extended and the full hand used, not 



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