CASSELL'S POPULAR NATUEAL HISTORY. 



In (lie history of the horse we must not omit a briel notice of what we must consider as a new 

 rni in the system of training: we allude, of course, to Mr. Rarey's method of taming vicious horses. 

 That gentleman has, undoubtedly, extraordinary physical qualifications for the work in. which he has 

 so successfully engaged. His speaking eye, his ready hand, and his agile foot, are elements of his 

 power ; but there arc others, of a higher grade,, in his entire self-possession his unflinching courage, 

 and his exhaustless patience. Thus provided, he acts on the conviction that when a horse is timid or 

 scared, it is from ignorance, and that knowledge will enlighten him, and give him confidence. Hence, 

 he never uses anything in his treatment of a horse which he does not show the animal, that he may 

 test it in his own way. Is a bit to be placed in his mouth, or a saddle on his back, or is Mr. Rarey 

 about to mount him, to give proof that he is tamed or assured 1 the drum to be beaten, like the 

 others, is first submitted to the sight and smell of the horse. 



A practice, on which much is dependent, Mr. Rarey thus describes : " Take up one foot, and 

 bend his knee till his hoof is bottom upwards, and nearly touching his body ; then slip a loop over his 

 knee, and up until it comes above the pastern joint to keep it up, being careful to draw the loop 

 together between the hoof and pastern joint, with a second strap of some kind, to prevent the loop from 

 slipping down and coming off. This will leave the horse standing on three legs ; you can now handle 

 him as you wish for it is utterly impossible for him to kick in this position. There is something in 

 this operation of taking up one foot that conquers a horse quicker and better than anything else you 

 can do to him. There is no process in the world equal to it for breaking a kicking horse, for several 

 reasons : first, there is a principle of this kind in the nature of the horse, that, by conquering one 

 member, you conquer, to a great extent, the whole horse. When you first fasten up a horse's foot, he 

 will sometimes get very mad, and strike with his knee, and try every possible way to get it down ; but 

 he cannot do that, and will soon give up. This will conquer him better than anything you could do, 

 and without any possible danger of his hurting himself, or you either ; for you can tie up his foot, 

 and sit down and look at him until he gives up. When you find that he is conquered, go to him, let 

 down his foot, rub his leg with your hand, caress him, and then let him rest a little ; then put it up 

 again. Repeat this a few times, always putting up the same foot, and he will soon learn to travel on 

 three legs, so that you can drive him some distance. As soon as he gets a little used to this way of 

 travelling, put on your harness, and hitch him to a sulky. If he is the worst kicking horse that ever 

 raised a foot, you need not be fearful of his doing any damage while he has one foot up ; for he cannot 

 kick, neither can he run fast enough to do any harm ; and, if he is the wildest horse that ever had 

 harness on, and has run away every time he has been hitched, you can now hitch him in a sulky, and 

 drive him as you please ; and, if he wants to run, you can let him have the lines, and the whip too, 

 with perfect safety ; for he can go but a slow gait on three legs, and will soon be tired, and willing to 

 stop ; only hold him enough to guide him in the right direction, and he will soon be tired and 

 willing to stop at the word. Thus, you will effectually cure him at once of any further notion of 

 running off." 



THE HOUSES OF FEANCE. 



THE western part of France is that which produces most horses. In the northern extremity of this 

 vast country of pasturage an enormous draught-horse is raised : the coat almost alwavs gray roan, 

 extremities black, body short, breast very wide, chest short, bent, and thick, often saddle-backed, head 

 short, forehead slightly projecting, .mane double, fine skin, large hoof with soft horn, and muscles 

 : trough- developed. 



The animals represented in the 'engraving (page 217), show well the physiognomy of the horse of 

 Ardennes, which, however, often present larger and more distinguished animals. They have a short 

 I ""iv, the coat rarely white, but oftener bay or iron-gray. The limbs are dry and hairy, the feet well 

 made, the hoof hard, the shoulder very long, the breast much developed, and the muscles well delineated. 



Brittany, like Normandy, produces horses of all sorts. They are characterised, in general, by a 

 head with a short nose, very wide forehead, and an abrupt contraction below the eyes. 



The most remarkable type of the large draught-horses is at Fougcres, and approaches the Percherou 

 '""''' ''"' 'I presents a much larger body, larger bones, more hairy extremities, and more projecting 

 mtuolea, principally on the back. The hoofs are hard and well made ; the coat is often white. 



