CHAPTER XVI 



EQUITATION 



HoESEMANSHip involves the mastery of mind over matter in 

 a way, but the control of the matter is accomplished, indirectly, 

 by the mastery of a superior over an inferior intellect. A horse's 

 usefulness is in proportion to the completeness of his subjuga- 

 tion, and the more we know of his mental capacity the more 

 completely may we accomplish his subjugation. 



Control of the Horse. — There is a sentimental opposition to 

 a recital of the horse's mental limitations which must be over- 

 come, and these limitations appreciated, if the most satisfactory 

 service is to be had from him. For instance, it has been alleged 

 that the horse is both a fool and a coward, and while these un- 

 complimentary terms may arouse the ire of horse lovers, and 

 api^arently justly so, it is the actual possession of these two 

 traits, perhaps more moderately called credulity and depend- 

 ence, which makes it possible to use horses, at all, with safety and 

 satisfaction. Our whole system of breaking, schooling, and 

 driving is fundamentally deceptive. We aim to give the horse an 

 exalted notion of those of his powers which are useful to us and 

 at the same time create the idea that certain others, which might 

 prove detrimental to our purpose, are hardly worthy of the 

 horse's consideration. 



The all too common notion that the primary essential in riding 

 or driving is to be able to " hold him " leads one wide of the mark 

 in tlie rudiments of real horsemanship. Such misconception of 

 facts is responsible for many of the disasters in which runaway 

 horses are conspicuous. Most convincing proof of the absurdity 

 of such an idea is the faultless performance which a pair of 

 horses may piit up in a class for ladies to drive, while the same 

 pair, under identical conditions, had proved unmanageable for 

 some heavy-handed, strong-armed man driver in a preceding 

 class. Control, or at least the only system which renders horses 

 serviceably safe, is of the mental, not muscular activities of the 



269 



