110 HOW THE HORSE LEARNS 



for a certain time that from us he receives good 

 and not evil. 



This belief, this state of mind of the horse, 

 renders him tranquil, gives him the possibility of 

 being attentive, and the willingness to obey, and 

 prevents him to be excited to anger and therefore 

 resistance; it is therefore the first thing to be 

 taught to the horse in order that he should con- 

 sent to do what we desire. 



If in place of being confident in us he is afraid 

 of us and fears us, if he is in a state of mental 

 revolt, his thought is to escape or to respond by 

 violence, to attack, not to pay attention and be 

 inclined to obedience, and if he does obey he does 

 so unwillingly because he believes himself mate- 

 rially compelled, and he is readily inclined to take 

 fright at everything. That the horse should have 

 confidence in the person teaching him is the most 

 nece^sarji tiling in order to be able to teach him 

 and to allow him to learn. Everything is obtained 

 easily from the horse if, from having let him see 

 constantly that it is not desired to do him harm 

 or to compel him by continual physical force, his 

 confidence has been acquired. 



