8 MENTAL QUALITIES OF THE HORSE. 



number of associations made with the same idea, the 

 weaker do each of them become. From this we learn, 

 that in teaching horses we should begin with them when 

 they are young ; that we should not continue our instruc- 

 tion so long as to fatigue their mind ; and that we should 

 restrict, as far as possible, the associations which we bring 

 about in the mind of the horse to their own respective 

 results. Some men hit a horse with the whip, "job " 

 him in the mouth with the rein, or speak to him in exactly 

 the same way for whatever fault he may commit, and then 

 wonder why they fail to keep him in control. 



INTELLIGENCE AND REASON. 



Consciousness is the beginning of intelligence, which 

 culminates in reasoning power. The intelligence of the 

 horse appears to me to be limited to the power of profiting 

 by experience obtained by association of ideas formed 

 from pleasurable or painful trial. When the association 

 of ideas is more or less complex, there is hesitation and 

 apparent reflection. Self-control being a necessary conse- 

 quence of consciousness, animals sometimes control the 

 promptings of instinct by association of ideas gained from 

 experience. Thus the civilized dog or cat, on observing 

 forbidden food, will often appear to be in a dilemma ; on 

 the one side being urged to obey its instinct of hunger ; 

 on the other, being restrained, probably, by the idea that 

 punishment will follow the commission of theft. In 

 obeying pure instinct, there would be no hesitation. The 

 dog that has sinned in secret will often betray himself 

 by his guilty look and abashed behaviour. We may assume 

 that he, just as a man might do, yielded to the temptation 

 of instinct, and afterwards associated in his mind the idea 

 of chastisement with that of his sin. We may note, to a 

 certain though far slighter extent, this feeling in a 



