DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 481 
number of other fiery untameable animals which he purchased 
almost for nothing. 
I have seen vicious and unmanageable horses cured by being 
ridden rapidly over heavy and ploughed land until their strength 
was perfectly exhausted. 
The great art is to form a correct estimate of the character of 
the animal, and discover whether his vices arise from mere play- 
fulness, from being badly trained, from actual viciousness, or from 
pain, or incapability to execute that which is required of him. 
Without thus carefully weighing every point it is impossible to act 
with any chance of success. An animal that resisted on account of 
disease or incapacity might be killed, but could never be rendered 
obedient. 
When the object in view is not always to tame an animal, but 
merely to render oneself master of him for a certain period — as 
when he is shod, cleaned, or operated upon — the best and simplest 
plan is to put him on barnacles, or cover his eyes with a cloth. 
I prefer the latter, as he is then more effectually deprived of sight, 
and the barnacles frequently admit of the passage of some few 
oblique rays of light. 
The animal, when thus blinded, will seldom resist much ; and if 
he should, let him be trotted round and round on turf, or in a yard 
covered with dung, until he begins to be giddy and totter, and that 
will soon occur. Deprived of sight, and uncertain where he is, he 
will cease to resist, and allow himself to be shod or operated upon 
without resistance. He is like a horse suspended in a sling, and 
fears to move. Hobbles, or the nose-band, are all accessory means 
of obtaining dominion over a horse. 
When a fiery horse, free from all constraint, refuses to let any 
one approach to or get hold of him, endeavours must be made to 
direct his course towards some narrow passage from which there is 
no egress, or a barn, or court, or yard. When he is once housed 
there, let all gentle means be resorted to for some time, in order to 
calm him ; but if these fail, and he attacks all who approach him, 
and there is danger of his escaping, recourse must be had to a cord 
with a running noose, and this be aimed at his neck or legs, so 
as to catch and entangle him. Then let some strong men rush 
forward with cords ; but not loosen him until he is firmly fastened 
to a strong ring or tree, blinded, and a snaffle with two long straps 
put on him If he is inclined to bite, a nose-band or basket-muzzle 
made of iron, and affixed to the lower part of the head, will prevent 
any danger on that score. If he strikes out with his fore feet, a 
hobble will soon quiet him. If he plunges, force the head up as high 
as possible, and hold it in that position with a vigorous arm. 
Another very good way of curbing his spirit is to harness him to 
