The Arabian Art of Taming and Training Wild and Vicious Horses | Page 8

any kind whatever.
The only science that has ever existed in the world, relative to the
breaking of horses, that has been of any account, is that true method
which takes them in their native state, and improves their intelligence.
POWEL'S SYSTEM OF APPROACHING THE COLT.
But, before we go further, I will give you Willis J. Powel's system of
approaching a wild colt, as given by him in a work published in Europe,
about the year 1811, on the "Art of taming wild horses." He says, "A
horse is gentled by my secret, in from two to sixteen hours." The time I
have most commonly employed has been from four to six hours. He
goes on to say: "Cause your horse to be put in a small yard, stable, or
room. If in a stable or room, it ought to be large in order to give him
some exercise with the halter before you lead him out. If the horse
belong to that class which appears only to fear man, you must introduce
yourself gently into the stable, room, or yard, where the horse is. He
will naturally run from you, and frequently turn his head from you; but
you must walk about extremely slow and softly, so that he can see you
whenever he turns his head towards you, which he never fails to do in a
short time, say in a quarter of an hour. I never knew one to be much
longer without turning towards me.

"At the very moment he turns his head, hold out your left hand towards
him, and stand perfectly still, keeping your eyes upon the horse,
watching his motions if he makes any. If the horse does not stir for ten
or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly as possible, and without making
the least noise, always holding out your left hand, without any other
ingredient in it than that what nature put in it." He says, "I have made
use of certain, ingredients before people, such as the sweat under my
arm, etc., to disguise the real secret, and many believed that the docility
to which the horse arrived in so short a time, was owing to these
ingredients; but you see from this explanation that they were of no use
whatever. The implicit faith placed in these ingredients, though
innocent of themselves, becomes 'faith without works.' And thus men
remained always in doubt concerning this secret. If the horse makes the
least motion when you advance toward him, stop, and remain perfectly
still until he is quiet. Remain a few moments in this condition, and then
advance again in the same slow and imperceptible manner. Take notice:
if the horse stirs, stop without changing your position. It is very
uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you begin to
advance, yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps his eyes steadfast
on you, until you get near enough to touch him on the forehead. When
you are thus near to him, raise slowly, and by degrees, your hand, and
let it come in contact with that part just above the nostrils as lightly as
possible. If the horse flinches, (as many will,) repeat with great rapidity
these light strokes upon the forehead, going a little further up towards
his ears by degrees, and descending with the same rapidity until he will
let you handle his forehead all over. Now let the strokes be repeated
with more force over all his forehead, descending by lighter strokes to
each side of his head, until you can handle that part with equal facility.
Then touch in the same light manner, making your hands and fingers
play around the lower part of the horse's ears, coming down now and
then to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the helm that
governs all the rest.
"Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance towards the neck,
with the same precautions, and in the same manner; observing always
to augment the force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it.
Perform the same on both sides of the neck, until he lets you take it in

your arms without flinching.
"Proceed in the same progressive manner to the sides, and then to the
back of the horse. Every time the horse shows any nervousness return
immediately to the forehead as the true standard, patting him with your
hands, and from thence rapidly to where you had already arrived,
always gaining ground a considerable distance farther on every time
this happens. The head, ears, neck and body being thus gentled,
proceed from the back to the root of the tail.
"This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse is never to be
depended on that is skittish about the tail. Let your hand fall