28 SUBJECTION OLD METHODS OF. 



destroy life. Hence the different methods of taming or 

 breaking horses in general use from time immemorial. The 

 first account we have of any horse being subdued was that 

 of Bucephalus, in the time of Alexander the Great, about 

 300 years before Christ. A subject, we are told, presented 

 this horse to the Emperor as a gift, but he (the horse) show- 

 ing a very vicious disposition, Alexander ordered him to be 

 taken away, when young Alexander stated what a pity to 

 lose so fine an animal for the want of a little address, 

 adroitly mounted him and rode him off at the top of his 

 speed. The greatest alarm was manifested for the safety of 

 the Prince, and the joy of all was great when he returned, 

 the horse perfectly gentle, and he safe. This horse became 

 famous for his wonderful sagacity. We are told that when 

 he died he was buried with honors, and a city was given 

 his name. The same principle of subjection, with slight 

 variations, is still practiced on the pampas of South Amer- 

 ica, and on our western plains. They catch the horse with 

 a lasso, throw him to the ground, saddle and bridle him, 

 and ride him with whip and spur, until completely ex- 

 hausted and perfectly submissive. South Americans square 

 off the ends of the hair of the tail, after the horse submits, 

 to indicate that he is broken and again turn him loose. 

 The same principle is in use among the Indians on our 

 western plains, and with equal success. The Chilians tie a 

 refractory horse in the stable and whip him until he lies 

 down or falls down, usually requiring about forty-eight 

 hours. He is then tried, and if refractory the process is 

 continued until he becomes gentle. 



Bleeding, physicking, want of sleep, starving, want of 

 water, intense pain, choking, &c., &c., will enable this 

 end; but, as will be seen, this treatment is not only dan- 

 gerous but injurious, often breaking down the animal to 

 such a degree as to become comparatively worthless, or 

 made so treacherous as to require being broken over again 

 almost every time used. There is a belief among many, 

 even of intelligence, that a certain peculiar something in 

 the way of medicine, will make a horse gentle, following a 

 man anywhere. Catlin, an Indian traveler, states with 

 gravity, in his account of Indian customs, &c., that after 

 an Indian breathes into the nostrils of a horse, he becomes 

 his slave, following him like a dog, &c. I have handled 



