readily take the bit,
if each time he accepts it some good befalls him; or, again, he will
leap ditches and spring up embankments and perform all the other feats
incumbent on him, if he be led to associate obedience to the word of
command with relaxation. (13)

(13) Lit. "if every time he performs the word of command he is led to
expect some relaxation."

IX

The topics hitherto considered have been: firstly, how to reduce the
chance of being cheated in the purchase of a colt or full-grown horse;
secondly, how to escape as much as possible the risk of injuring your
purchase by mishandling; and lastly, how to succeed in turning out a
horse possessed of all the qualities demanded by the cavalry soldier for
the purposes of war.

The time has come perhaps to add a few suggestions, in case the rider
should be called upon to deal with an animal either unduly spirited or
again unduly sluggish in disposition. The first point to recognise is,
that temper of spirit in a horse takes the place of passion or anger in
a man; and just as you may best escape exciting a man's ill-temper by
avoiding harshness of speech and act, so you will best avoid enraging a
spirited horse by not annoying him. Thus, from the first instant, in the
act of mounting him, you should take pains to minimise the annoyance;
and once on his back you should sit quiet for longer than the ordinary
time, and so urge him forward by the gentlest signs possible; next,
beginning at the slowest pace, gradually work him into a quicker
step, but so gradually that he will find himself at full speed without
noticing it. (1) Any sudden signal will bewilder a spirited horse, just
as a man is bewildered by any sudden sight or sound or other experience.
(I say one should be aware that any unexpected shock will produce
disturbance in a horse.) (2)

(1) Or, "so that the horse may insensibly fall into a gallop."

(2) L. Dindorf and others bracket, as spurious.

So if you wish to pull up a spirited horse when breaking off into a
quicker pace than requisite, you must not suddenly wrench him, but
quietly and gently bring the bit to bear upon him, coaxing him rather
than compelling him to calm down. It is the long steady course rather
than the frequent turn which tends to calm a horse. (3) A quiet pace
sustained for a long time has a caressing, (4) soothing effect, the
reverse of exciting. If any one proposes by a series of fast and
oft-repeated gallops to produce