BE THOROUGH. 27 



not destroy life. If a stallion, though gentle, is whipped 

 and made vicious, the result is likely to be seen in the 

 bad disposition of his colts. If a mare subjected to a great 

 shock of fear, or other marked causes of disturbing the 

 action of the nervous system, the effect of it is likely to be 

 strongly shown in the character of the colt, by its being 

 unusually nervous and excitable. A shock of fear may be 

 made so great as to cause a horse to die in his tracks. I 

 could refer to a number of horses dropping dead from the 

 fear of a train of cars or an engine coming upon them sud- 

 denly. I would call your special attention to the points 

 of fear under that head, which I would ask you to read 

 carefully. 



BE THOROUGH. 



f A timid man, who shows want of confidence in himself, 

 is not adapted to the task of having much to do with 

 vicious horses. In reality it requires not only the most 

 accurate judgment, but the greatest firmness and deter- 

 mination, to excel in the control of horses. If a horse is so 

 bad, courageous, and determined that he beats every one, 

 of course it is no easy or trifling job to break such a 

 horse, and do it well, without injuring him, and one, too, 

 that does not infrequently involve great danger. Suppose 

 there is danger, and you fail once or twice : that is nothing 

 to be discouraged at. This is the kind of trial, when you 

 succeed, that proves you are better than common men. 

 One of the great points of success is, you should not fail to 

 understand your treatment correctly, and just how to carry 

 it to a successful end. Mere power is not so much the 

 point, as acting most skilfully upon the brain to win the 

 full co-operation of the animal's understanding and better 

 nature to your aid. At all events, you must be careful 

 and patient, taking time, and repeating until you are sure 

 of success. Every time you fail you will learn something ; 

 and if you will persevere, as I have, guided by my instruc- 

 tion, which makes success in overcoming these possible 

 difficulties simple and easy, it will be your own fault if 

 you are not equally successful. Candidly, whatever I 

 have of skill or ability in the control of horses over oth- 

 ers has been all learned by failures. I have persever- 



