CHILIAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN METHODS. 67 



sive, they then square off the ends of the hair of the tail to 

 indicate that the horse is broken, and again turn him loose. 

 The Indians on our western plains practice the same plan. 

 The Chilians tie the refractory horse in the stall and apply 

 the whip right and left until he lies down or falls down 

 from weakness; the horse is then tried, and if refractory 

 the process is continued until he becomes gentle. The 

 same process is practiced by certain traveling horsemen in 

 this country; turning the wild or green colt loose in a small 

 enclosure and applying the whip until submissive. Of 

 course a horse must be whipped terribly to force obedience 

 in this way, and in the treatment of some is liable to sour 

 and spoil the temper. The farmer has learned that if he 

 can tire and exhaust a colt he is much less sensitive, not 

 likely to kick or attempt resisting control. Horses that are 

 worked hard or after a hard journey are much less sensitive 

 or excitable than after being idle for some time. The 

 exceptions being (for there are exceptions) those of pecu- 

 liarly excitable, hardy nature, that seem to increase in 

 energy as they are warmed up. 



The usual course in this country is to put the harness on 

 the green colt, after perhaps being bitted by checking up 

 tightly, which is repeated a few times. The colt is 

 attached by the side of a gentle horse, allowed to go and 

 wear in to becoming accustomed to the harness and obe- 

 dient to the control of the bit. The excitement and 

 possible resistance induced by this course without adequate 

 ability to control by the reins or bit, leads to the many 

 habits of balking, kicking, running away, fear, etc., in har- 

 ness. Should the animal become frightened or resist 

 violently without adequate precaution or power to prevent 

 resistance, some one of the many bad habits to which 

 horses are subject is produced. These results, it is seen, I 

 can easily prevent and overcome by my treatment, which 

 enables accomplishing the end desired in the simplest, most 

 practical and humane manner, thereby enabling me to con- 

 trol even almost at will, horses of the most vicious and des- 

 perate character. 



