Sociopath

by Patric Gagne

“They’re mad at first,” Granddaddy once explained. We were standing in a grassy paddock near the barn. A young horse was standing next to the fence, and I watched as my grandfather approached him and carefully slipped a halter around his neck. The horse objected, but then settled. “They kick,” Granddaddy continued softly. “They buck. They try to throw you off. But if you’re consistent, you can gain their trust.” He tugged slowly on the halter, causing the animal to gently lower his head. “You introduce pressure so they learn to release their will,” he demonstrated. “And most importantly”—Grandaddy reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of sugar cubes—“you reward their progress to encourage obedience.” The horse munched eagerly on his treat, and I giggled. “And that,” he said, winking, “is how you break a horse.”