CHAPTER III 



THE SENSE OF SMELL IN THE HORSE 



Of course, Count, you have read what Madame de Stael 

 says, that 'the sense of smell is the noblest of the senses.' 

 Is it the keenest sense in the horse ? 



' While the senses of sight and hearing are preternaturally 

 acute, even more so than in dogs, the sense of smell is 

 exceedingly fine. It answers to the combined senses of 

 touch, taste, and smell, in man. If a horse can investigate 

 an object to his satisfaction, with his nose, he no longer 

 fears it. 



' He may see and hear a steam engine, that bete noir of 

 the horse, and through these senses exhibit fear and anxiety 

 to get away from it. But if once coaxed close and held 

 firmly near it, and ?nade to smell it, he will never show or 

 feel the same fear again, and aided by sight and hearing 

 can soon be broken to its various manifestations of noise — 

 escaping steam, whistle and shriek.' 



Then it is important to take him close enough to the 

 locomotive, to let him smell it in order to break him 

 properly ? 



