any particular section of the horse—that section would still have remained in a state of savagery. Thus you might have had three tame legs, and a wild one. This, no doubt, implies an exaggeration. I only mean to convey an idea of the importance which the operator seemed to attach to familiarising the animal with contact with the human hand over its whole frame. The straps which had confined his fore legs were soon removed, but still the horse lay perfectly passive, and seemingly content with his situation. Mr. Rarey lay upon him; stepped over him, sate upon his head, took his fore-legs, rubbed them and moved them backwards and forwards as you would do if you had intended to restore checked or impeded circulation. The same process took place with the hind legs, and here it was evident that volition, and the power of independent muscular action was gone. The hind-legs were soft and flaccid; they moved as they were pulled, and remained where they had been placed. Mr. Rarey lay down upon the ground, and taking one of the horse’s hind-feet, placed the armed hoof on his forehead. Had there been but one momentary spasm of volition, or return of ferocity, the horse-tamer was a dead man. He was like a man tied to the mouth of a gun; nothing could have saved him had the fire been applied to the charge.
This portion of the operation may have lasted about a quarter of an hour. Mr. Rarey then made the horse get up, which he did readily enough, but now every spark of his original ferocity seemed extinct. Saddle and bridle were brought in. They were first presented to the horse, and were carefully examined by him. The examination was conducted entirely by the sense of smell.
When the process of saddling, mounting, and dismounting had been freely accomplished, a drum was brought in by one of the attendants. This also was presented to the horse, who carefully smelt it all over, and soon appeared satisfied that no harm was intended. The drum was passed over his head, neck, shoulders; his sides were rubbed with it, and finally it was placed upon his back, and softly tapped at first. The horse merely pricked up his ears. It was sounded louder and louder by degrees, until at last the most enthusiastic drummer would have been satisfied with the disturbance and clatter. This seemed to be the crucial test, and the animal was led out meek, and entirely subdued.
Now, this is a faithful and unexaggerated account of what I saw. How far the effect produced upon the horse by Mr. Rarey’s method may be permanent I have no means of judging. In the “Times” of this morning, July 26, I observe a letter in which it is stated that Cruiser, forgetful of Mr. Rarey’s lessons, has inflicted injuries of so grave a character upon his groom, that he is now lying at St. George’s Hospital at the last extremity. We cannot, however, venture to draw conclusions from this lamentable occurrence, unless we knew how far this unfortunate man had treated the horse in accordance with Mr. Rarey’s instructions. Even if there are exceptional cases in which the improvement is transitory, not permanent—apparent, not real—we must remember that we find incorrigible and untrainable cases even amongst human beings. Why should not a horse be afflicted with homicidal mania as well as a man? A system of education may be the best which the wit of man can devise; but no one would affirm that it would never fail in particular cases. The system of Mr. Rarey must be judged of as a whole, and by its general results; as such we may confidently affirm that it will be productive of great good both to man and to the horse.
SEBASTOPOL VILLA.
always do my best to earn my welcome at those houses where I—fortunate bachelor that I am—enjoy the privilege of being able to drop in when I like, of an evening, for a cup of tea and a pleasant chat. So that—happening to be present when the new microscope, which my friend Jones had ordered as a present for his wife, came home; and hearing that lady express a wish for a bottle full of the green slime of stagnant ponds, “in which the dear animalcules and infusoria, about which Mr. Gosse writes so charmingly,” are to be found—you may be sure that I took advantage of the opportunity thus afforded me of making myself acceptable; and promised my hostess that I would forthwith obtain for her a liberal supply of those interesting creatures to try her long coveted instrument upon; and early the following morning I started off, like a man of my word, to procure them.
