HOW OBEDIEKOK XS TAUGHT 217 



inflicting on him many pnnisliments wldch make 

 liim think we are his enemies, and make him feel 

 the necessity of defending himself. 



We must avoid any lack of the necessary gra- 

 dation and not give him lessons when he is in 

 excessive spirits and in places where he may be 

 afraid or when he is dominated by his instincts, 

 and must not excite him to anger by inflicting 

 punishments. When in a state of excessive spirits 

 or under the domination of his instincts nothing 

 should be taught him or required from him, but 

 he should be given exercise to make it pass off 

 and distract him or if it is the exercise which 

 excites him, his attention should be drawn off in 

 some other way. By failing to do this we should 

 have oppositions and I'eactions, and. he afterwards 

 retaining the memory of having performed them 

 would desire to do them again. Removing every 

 motive of discontent and of enmity in the horse by 

 every kind of good treatment, by making him see 

 that it is not desired to ill-treat him, and he is 

 not ill-treated, is the method of avoiding as far 

 as possible oppositions and reactions. 



