GREAT THOROUGHNESS NECESSARY. 41 



Of course there are circumstances, and they are almost of 

 constant occurrence, that call for courage and firmness of 

 the highest order, to divert the attention, and hold a dis- 

 position to aggression in check. Horses of courage and 

 intelligence are sometimes wonderfully acute in their per- 

 ceptions, and the least expression of weakness or want of 

 confidence would encourage them to resistance if not 

 dangerous aggression. This is seen most clearly in 

 stallions. 



The horse always reveals his intentions by the actions 

 of the ears and muzzle, and the expression of the eyes, as 

 plainly as could be done by words. If they are thrown 

 back, the lips curl, eye half closes and glistening with an 

 expression of defiance, there is danger. In approaching 

 such a horse, the better way is to stand still just beyond 

 the reach of the animal, looking straight at the eye, show- 

 ing undoubted confidence and power in the actions and 

 expression of the features and language, authoritatively 

 commanding to get round or take care. The degree of 

 attention and submission to command, will enable deter- 

 mining with great certainty, how far it is safe to venture, 

 but under any circumstances is the eye, in such a case, to 

 be taken off that of the horse. The firmness and delicacy of 

 judgment often necessary in approaching and handling some 

 horses, must necessarily be of a high order to prevent resist- 

 ance, if not aggression and injury. 



GREAT THOROUGHNESS NECESSARY. 



An important requisition is being thorough in what is 

 attempted to be done, and never to feel that there cannot 

 be success. The worse the horse, the more careful and 

 thorough must be the efforts. Want of reasonable perse- 

 verance will, I imagine, be the principle cause of failure if 

 there is failure. 



Fifteen out of every twenty men, who may attend my 

 lectures, would toil arduously and patiently for days and 

 even weeks for the pittance of a dollar or two a day, who 

 would scarcely submit to the patience and effort necessary 

 to break or reform a valuable horse, for example, of balking 

 or kicking, if it required a half day's continuous effort, 

 though the effort would enable increasing value of the ani- 

 mal from one-fourth to one-half. 



