78 THE HORSE 



Make it a point also to be very quiet and gentle 

 with the animals that have this habit, both in the 

 stable and when using them. Be deliberate in 

 your movements and do not speak to the horse 

 loudly or harshly. Tail switching indicates a 

 nervous irritability, and the less that is done to 

 rouse this, the quicker will be the cure. A few 

 years ago I bought a young mare who had the 

 habit and in a few months she got entirely over 

 it with no treatment whatever, except using her 

 gently and " horse fashion." 



The methods I have here recommended for the 

 cure of different vices are those which I have found 

 the best and most efficacious ; they are simple and 

 can be applied by any one else as well as myself. 

 If carefully studied they will, I think, furnish the 

 key to the treatment for the cure of any that are 

 not mentioned here. But however carefully I 

 may explain their working and the principle on 

 which they depend, much after all must depend on 

 the trainer and I feel that I cannot urge too 

 strongly or too frequently upon my reader the 

 necessity for patience, resolution, and self-con- 

 trol. 



