418 KINDNESS TO HORSES. 



during the day, in order to prevent them lying down, 

 soiling themselves and disarranging the bedding, 

 which would, of course, entail trouble on the stable 

 attendants. To such men, the good effect of liberty 

 on legs and health is, of course, a negligible 

 quantity. It is evident that the benefit of a loose 

 box is nullified, if the animal in it is tied up. 

 When we visit horses in their stable and find that 

 they exhibit terror at our approach, we may con- 

 clude that their fear is due to bad management, 

 because no horse which has been kindly treated, will 

 show the slightest fear on being approached. A 

 class of groom whom I would not care to keep, 

 is the funky man who is continually yelling at his 

 animals, and thus unfits them to obey our words 

 of command when we ride them. Every horse- 

 owner, even from a purely humane point of view, 

 should spare a few minutes at night before turn- 

 ing in, to see that the animals have got plenty 

 of hay and are not parched with thirst. I would 

 strongly plead for our dumb friends in this matter, 

 because, on more than one occasion, I have found 

 my horses shut up for the night without " bite or sup," 

 and by the welcome they always gave me, I know 

 they were most grateful to me for my nightly visits, 

 not only in neighing on hearing me speak, but also 

 in dutifully obeying my voice when I rode them. If 

 a horse, like a dog, gets to know that his mistress 

 is his kindest friend, he will do his best to please 

 her, and will remain steady at her command even under 



