The Arabian Art of Taming and Training Wild and Vicious Horses | Page 5

been proven
practical by my own experiments. And knowing from experience just
what obstacles I have met with in handling bad horses, I shall try to
anticipate them for you, and assist you in surmounting them, by
commencing with the first steps taken with the colt, and accompanying

you through the whole task of breaking.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN GETTING THE COLT FROM PASTURE.
Go to the pasture and walk around the whole herd quietly, and at such a
distance as not to cause them to scare and run. Then approach them
very slowly, and if they stick up their heads and seem to be frightened,
hold on until they become quiet, so as not to make them run before you
are close enough to drive them in the direction you want to go. And
when you begin to drive, do not flourish your arms or hollow, but
gently follow them off leaving the direction free for them that you wish
them to take. Thus taking advantage of their ignorance, you will be able
to get them in the pound as easily as the hunter drives the quails into
his net. For, if they have always run into the pasture uncared for, (as
many horses do in prairie countries and on large plantations,) there is
no reason why they should not be as wild as the sportsman's birds and
require the same gentle treatment, if you want to get them without
trouble; for the horse in his natural state is as wild as any of the
undomesticated animals, though more easily tamed than most of them.
HOW TO STABLE A COLT WITHOUT TROUBLE.
The next step will be, to get the horse into a stable or shed. This should
be done as quietly as possible, so as not to excite any suspicion in the
horse of any danger befalling him. The best way to do this, is to lead a
gentle horse into the stable first and hitch him, then quietly walk
around the colt and let him go in of his own accord. It is almost
impossible to get men, who have never practiced on this principle, to
go slow and considerate enough about it. They do not know that in
handling a wild horse, above all other things, is that good old adage
true, that "haste makes waste;" that is, waste of time, for the gain of
trouble and perplexity.
One wrong move may frighten your horse, and make him think it is
necessary to escape at all hazards for the safety of his life, and thus
make two hours work of a ten minutes job; and this would be all your
own fault, and entirely unnecessary; for he will not run unless you run
after him, and that would not be good policy, unless you knew that you

could outrun him; or you will have to let him stop of his own accord
after all. But he will not try to break away, unless you attempt to force
him into measures. If he does not see the way at once, and is a little
fretful about going in, do not undertake to drive him, but give him a
little less room outside, by gently closing in around him. Do not raise
your arms, but let them hang at your side; for you might as well raise a
club. The horse has never studied anatomy, and does not know but they
will unhinge themselves and fly at him. It he attempts to turn back,
walk before him, but do not run; and if he gets past you, encircle him
again in the same quiet manner, and he will soon find that you are not
going to hurt him; and you can soon walk so close around him that he
will go into the stable for more room, and to get farther from you. As
soon as he is in, remove the quiet horse and shut the door. This will be
his first notion of confinement--not knowing how to get in such a place,
nor how to get out of it. That he may take it as quietly as possible, see
that the shed is entirely free from dogs, chickens, or anything that
would annoy him; then give him a few ears of corn, and let him remain
alone fifteen or twenty minutes, until he has examined his apartment,
and has become reconciled to his confinement.
TIME TO REFLECT.
And now, while your horse is eating those few ears of corn, is the
proper time to see that your halter is ready and all right, and to reflect
on the best mode of operations; for, in the horsebreaking, it is highly
important that you should be governed by some system. And you
should know before you attempt to do anything, just