ART OF HANDLING AND TAMING DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 41 
one, and rendered them docile and obedient in a short time. It 
was by these means that the stallions Desire and Reserve, of 
the stud of Experience at Alfort, were tamed. This stable-keeper 
had at the end of the handle of his whip a ball of lead, performing 
the office of a knob. With this he applied a sharp blow on the 
nape of the neck every time the animal plunged or kicked. The 
animal felt this stroke near the sensible region of the head like 
an electric shock, and, not daring to make any farther defence, re- 
mained absolutely stunned, or almost annihilated for awhile. 
The breaker-in then coaxed the animal, and gently led him into 
all the paces he required ; and it was by this mingling of correction 
with caresses that he not only rendered these two stallions tracta- 
ble, but a number of other fiery horses that he bought at a low 
price as untameable animals. I have seen many fiery horses cured 
of their violence by racing them on heavy ground until their whole 
strength was for a time exhausted. 
The grand thing is to be able to distinguish the character of the 
animal, — to learn whether his defences and his caprices are the 
fruits of bad education, — the effects of mischievousness and vice, 
or produced by pain and incapability to execute what is required. 
It is only by making this essential distinction that any success 
can be hoped from one or another mode of taming the animal ; 
since a horse that resists from weakness or disease may be over- 
come or killed, but never tamed. 
When we wish merely to render ourselves masters of the horse 
for a certain space of time, because he will not stand to be shod, 
cleaned, or operated upon, I have already stated the most simple 
means, such as a covering fixed on the top of the head, and 
brought down to the eyes, so that he will be deprived of sight for 
a period. I have pressed a linen covering, which intercepts the 
light better than spectacles, through which oblique rays often pass. 
A horse thus deprived of sight seldom resists much, or, if he 
should, let him be trotted round and round in a circle until he tot- 
ters and becomes giddy, which soon happens. Uncertain where 
he is, and deprived of sight, he ceases to fight, and suffers himself 
to be shackled, or operated on, without resistance. He is like a 
horse that, when slung, and consequently without support, is afraid 
to move. 
If a wild and fiery horse will not permit any ond to approach 
or catch him, he should be driven towards close and narrow pas- 
sages, where, once in, he can easily be kept there. A barn, a yard, 
or narrow street, will enclose him, and prevent accidents. 
When all gentle means have been tried to calm him, and he 
still refuses to be approached, or attacks the men, and threatens to 
escape or causes fresh accidents, it is indispensable to put a stop 
VOL. XVIII. G 
