SUBJUGATION OF VICIOUS HORSES. 341 



regarded as likely to occasion more punishment to 

 the horse than benefit to his rider. For the pur- 

 pose of moimting a horse only, it is evident there 

 is no necessity whatever to make him assume a 

 recumbent position, from which he always rises 

 with difficulty to himself, and a very unpleasant 

 sensation, if nothing more, to his rider. Those 

 who are fond of teaching animals to perform tricks 

 may take pleasure in making their dogs stand up 

 and beg, and their horses lie down to be mounted 

 at the word of command ; but to talk or write of 

 the utility of such tricks and manoeuvres, in a 

 general point of view, would be ridiculous. 



Now, then, we come to discuss the utility of the 

 plan, if used as a means of subjugating vicious 

 horses; and, first, we w^ill see what Mr. Rarey 

 writes on this subject, " How to make a horse lie 

 down:" — "To make a horse lie doAvn, bend his 

 left foreleg, and slip a loop over it, so that he can- 

 not get it down ; then put a surcingle around his 

 body, and fasten one end of a long strap around 

 the other fore-leg, just above the hoof. Place the 

 other end under the surcingle, so as to keep the 

 strap in the right direction ; take a short hold of 

 it with your right hand ; stand on the left side of 

 the horse, grasp the bit in your left hand, pull 

 steadily on the strap with your right ; bear against 



