The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



Whatever you do, do not risk a trial of 

 personal strength — ^tug of war wise — ^in which, 

 if he gets the better of you, the illusion that 

 you are the stronger animal may be weakened. 

 If you are in any danger of being pulled into 

 too fast a run at the end of a tight rope with 

 the necessity of letting go to save yourself, 

 always let the rope go when it is slack, so that 

 he understands you have let it go of your own 

 volition. The moment you drop the rope, 

 stand still, and do not attempt to follow him, 

 not a step. Just stand there perfectly motion- 

 less and you will find he will come up to you. 

 It may take a minute, two, three or four ; 

 but he will come up to you. Keep your hands 

 in your pockets, and simply stand there talking 

 to him. Don't attempt to grab him. Let him 

 go away again if he likes, he is sure to come 

 back. It is he who is to be made impatient. 

 Keep dead quiet. He will take a sniff of you 

 and eventually rub his nose against your 

 sleeve. With the slowest possible movement, 

 withdraw one hand from your pocket and see 

 that there are some oats in it. The victory 

 is won. 



Then slowly move on a pace or two. He 

 will follow. Then on again. He will be there. 

 Just a few more oats, and with the same hand 

 gently scratch his neck and get on to that 

 pet place on his back. Who is thinking of 

 halters now ? Keep on scratching, and, with 



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