220 HEAD AND NECK. 



(Equus zebra, Fig. 310), whose feet were becoming gradu- 

 ally deformed, on account of the animal not permitting 

 them to be pared down. In less than an hour after 

 I had turned it into the ring of Frank Fillis's circus, 

 which was then in Calcutta, I had its feet rasped down 

 to a proper level, and had it saddled and bridled for the 

 first time in its life. It was then ridden by Steve Margaret 

 (a brilliant Australian rough-rider) and by my wife. This 

 was certainly the first occasion a lady ever rode this 

 variety of zebra, which has the reputation all over the 

 world of being unrideable. Although I was able to quickly 

 teach it to carry its unwonted burden quietly, I made far 

 less progress in giving it a " mouth " during the two days 

 I had it in hand, than I would have done in half an hour 

 with any wild Colonial horse caught for the first time 

 on a " run ; " the reason being that the zebra's neck 

 was so stiff and strong, that I was unable to bend it in 

 any direction. I soon taught it to do what I wanted in 

 the circus ; but when I rode it outside, it took me where- 

 ever it liked. In fact, I had not the slightest power to 

 either stop or guide it. Some horses, like this striped ass, 

 though not to the same extent, are very stiff in the neck, 

 a fact which may be owing to an obstinate temper, bad 

 breaking in, or to a thick and rigid condition of the 

 muscles and joints of the part. This natural want of 

 flexibility may be overcome to a great extent by judicious 

 " bending." As it militates against the ready turning 

 and easy regulation of the paces of an animal, it should 

 be regarded as a grave defect of conformation in the 

 saddle-horse and light trapper. It may, however, be 

 overlooked in the heavy cart-horse, whose normal pace 

 being a walk, will not require to be as " supple " (to use 

 a riding school term) as an animal that has to go at a 

 faster pace, and whose line of progression, instead of being 

 along a more or less straight road, may be across an 

 intricate country, or in conformance with the word of 

 command in a riding school or on parade. Besides, 



