26 FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE STRONGEST. 



applying them. But if as I have shown, and as the ordi- 

 nary observation of daily experience clearly proves, fear is 

 excited and the will aroused in securing obedience, the 

 resistance of the animal is stimulated, the legitimate 

 authority and control of the trainer or driver weakened or 

 neutralized, and the necessity for force greatly increased, 

 to a degree very often that wholly spoils the animal. 



FIKST IMPKESSIONS ARE STRONGEST. 



The first impressions made upon the mind or nervous 

 system of the colt, are the strongest and most lasting. A 

 colt or horse of even a good disposition, it is seen, may be 

 made a reckless, foolish, kicking maniac, by being greatly 

 frightened, from some cause in itself, perhaps trifling, but 

 forced to notice in such a way as to excite and derange the 

 nervous system. And when it is seen that even the life of 

 a sensitive horse may be destroyed by being greatly fright- 

 ened, we can see to what a degree the nervous system can 

 be deranged at times by causes which, if the animal were 

 subjected to the precautionary treatment shown, would 

 excite no fear, and hence no resistance, thereby preventing 

 as well as overcoming easily, what would appear to be an 

 almost insurmountable difficulty. 



Equine nature is so constituted that it will submit pas- 

 sively to conditions of resistance or restraint, it cannot suc- 

 cessfully resist or overcome, or by producing such impres- 

 sions upon the mind as will prevent an inclination to resist. 



This is the law of natural government or supremacy to 

 which all the lower animals yield, the smaller and weaker 

 submitting to the stronger, and indeed, this is the funda- 

 mental basis of successful human government. Hence, the 

 resorts of military power or studied scientific application of 

 destructive force as shown in war and its penalties, and 

 hence the effort to attain a knowledge of more destructive 

 'means to repel or overcome resistance. 



HORSES SHOULD BE EDUCATED NOT BROKEN. 



But we see, as in the successful education of the horse, 

 this principle must be so modified, that he will not be inju- 

 red or abused, not even excited to any extreme, as this 



