ADDING FUEL TO FIRE. 119 



a timid rider), on his horse refusing to face an 

 object, determine that he shall do it, and immediately 

 force him up to it : the very exertion used to make 

 him do this increases his terror of it, and a fight 

 ensues, Avhen, should the rider gain his point and 

 get him up to the object, the moment his head is 

 turned to leave it he bolts off as quickly as possible : 

 he has not been reconciled to it, and will shy at it 

 just as much (perhaps more) the next time he sees 

 it; for now he recognises it as an enemy, and has 

 been taught to know by experience what he only 

 feared before; namely, that it was a something that 

 would (and as he found did) cause him annoyance 

 and injury. Had the rider, as soon as he found his 

 horse alarmed on seeing this object, stopped him, let 

 him stand still, caressed and encouraged him, the 

 horse would have looked at it, and, finding no attempt 

 made to injure him, would have gradually approached 

 it ; then smelt at it (if a stationary object), and finally 

 have walked away coolly, collectedly, and satisfied, 

 and the next time he saw it, or a similar object, 

 would care very little about it. A little reflection 

 would tell us that these would be the different results 

 of the two different treatments ; but, unfortunately 

 for horses, reflection and consideration are not the 

 predominant qualities of the generality of horse- 

 breakers or grooms. Eace-horses, it is true, are not 

 used much on the public roads, still they frequently 

 have to go there, and as on a race-course they must 

 see all kinds of strange sights, it is quite as necessary 

 to teach them to face such objects without alarm as 

 any other horse. Indeed a race-horse liable to be 

 alarmed by crowds or noises never could be depended 

 upon ; but they are taught to be fearless of both, and 



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