142 HORSES: 



to follow without restraint, but will continue to do so 

 afterward ; also when the feet are taken up and handled 

 until an operation is quietly submitted to, or such re- 

 straint is brought upon the mouth as will overcome 

 the power of resistance, he will not only submit for the 

 time, but if the teaching be applied properly, inclina- 

 tion to resist afterward will_be quite overcome.' 



" The principle of this reasoning applies as well to 

 other habits of the horse. Like all other animals of 

 the herbivorous kind, he is naturally subject to the 

 domination of man, and so susceptible to training; 

 this subjection is illustrated in every type of horse, it 

 does not matter how wild or vicious he may be, if his 

 treatment be such as properly considers organization ; 

 in other words, is founded upon a thorough under- 

 standing of the horse nature. Having become once im- 

 pressed by the superior power of his master through the 

 element of -fear, his fear overcome and supplemented 

 by kind treatment he will not only exhibit submission 

 without the use of force or restraint, but he will re- 

 main so if not abused or excited. The horse is ever 

 subject to disturbance by the occurrence of unusual 

 sounds, especially those which arise from something 

 in contact with his body, and in this case a noise, 

 especially if suddenly made, is likely to excite intense 

 fear or resistance, and he will be likely to be afraid of 

 it ever afterward. A new object should be brought 

 slowly and gently to a horse's notice ; he should be 

 permitted to smell and feel of it, then it can soon be 

 placed on or around him without causing the least 

 fear. It does not matter whether while in harness the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



