214 HOW OBEDIENCE IS TAXIGni' 



forehand, is mucli more couvcnieut to liiin. It is 

 our duty to give him instruction by such gradation 

 that this inconvenience be reduced to the minimum 

 and he should be recompensed by caresses and good 

 treatment. Thus he is given the least possible occa- 

 sion for oppositions and reactions. 



It is natural that he should resist and that he 

 should react in order to try to avoid being forced 

 and compelled to perform the actions we desire. 

 It lies with us to avoid his reactions by approaching 

 him and standing at his side near the shoulder 

 maintaining this position in all the movements lie 

 makes, and giving him instruction under the gui- 

 dance of two or three lounges. In the beginning 

 we are very likely to have oppositions and reac- 

 tions from the new horse because he has been pro- 

 bably ill-treated or treated in an unreasonable way, 

 and he has learnt to oppose and react. He will 

 soon cease offering oppositions and reactions if 

 well-treated and not punished, because he will see 

 that there is no motive for making reactions when 

 he is treated well and will acquire trust and confi- 

 dence in us. 



