I begin first with those which are afraid of a gun, or the like. Cause a
pen to be made, just big enough to put the horses in, and in such a
manner as to be able to go round it in every direction, as well behind
as before; and let the bars be far enough apart for you to handle him
every where. Let him remain in his pen or cage from two o’clock in the
afternoon till the next morning, without eating or drinking. The pen
ought to be made so high, that the horse cannot reach his head over it,
and with four strong posts in the ground, so that if he should fall back
upon the bars, that traverse it behind, his weight will not be
sufficient to break or derange them. Go to him in the morning. Handle
him smartly a few minutes; then stand at a distance before him, with
your gun in your hand, without moving it, but so that he can see it. If
he is frightened at it, keep your position for some time, till he
remains quiet, then flash it off. Repeat this, till he is in some
measure reconciled to it. Draw nigher. Repeat the same: flash it off
before him, very nigh. Handle him in the forehead, and hold the gun in
one of your hands. Go on thus progressively, till you can load and fire
it off over his head, with as heavy a charge as you wish to put in it,
which you will be able to do in about two or three hours. When you have
gone thus far, run suddenly up to him, with your gun in your hand.
Handle him in the forehead, holding it still in your hand. Exercise him
well in this way, till he does not flinch or show any signs of fear,
when you thus approach him. Now, you suppose the work to be completed?
If you do, you are very much mistaken; for you must recollect, that he
has much to unlearn. Take away Fear--Inspire Confidence--Familiarize--are
three great lessons to be taught, in the art of gentling a wild horse;
and, to bring a rebellious horse to obedience, you must add, Unlearn.
Repeat the same, unlearn, &c., till he is completely gentle.
Now give your horse a plenty to eat and drink. I suppose it to be about
ten o’clock. Let him rest, if he will. Repeat your lessons at four
o’clock in the afternoon, more or less rapidly, according as he is
inclined to obey them. Feed him at night; let him remain in the pen all
night. Next day, go over the same exercise; at the end of which, if you
think him sufficiently docile, take him out of the pen, and go through
the same exercise that you did whilst he was in the pen. If he shows no
signs of fear at the explosion of the gun, when fired off from his back
or neck, you are sure of him. But you must exercise him a little, for
two or three days more; at the end of which, you may always rely on him
afterwards. Should he be somewhat refractory, when you take him out of
the pen, which would be a rare case, though some horses may be, put him
again into it, and repeat, and you will never fail to succeed. In the
same progressive manner, you can correct the defects of a skittish
horse, in a great measure; but some are of so fearful a nature that, if
they have been gentled in the common way, it requires a great deal of
patience to manage them.