BREAKING-IN. 239 



field has served to strengthen the attachment, and 

 caused me to interest myself in everything tending 

 to improve his condition and comfort. It has ever 

 been my maxim that the horse ought to be brought 

 up so as to look upon man as his friend, and taught 

 to obey him from love rather than fear. I believe 

 that in nine cases out of ten vice is engendered and 

 brought on by cruel and brutal treatment; although 

 it must be said that horses, like human beings, are 

 born with different dispositions, some being trust- 

 ing as women, whilst others are fierce, suspicious, 

 and treacherous. Like lads of varied character, 

 each require a different mode of breaking- in. 



In the last chapter I gave some account of my 

 favourite charger, " Desert- Born: " I shall now 

 describe the manner I lost my faithful friend and 

 companion. First, however, I must describe my 

 pet, who was the beau-ideal of what a horse should 

 be. A pure bred Nedjed Arab, standing just under 

 fifteen hands, he was so exquisitely shaped and 

 well-proportioned that his want of size was hardly 

 perceptible. His colour was gray deepening to 

 black at the points, he had a splendid well-ribbed 



