OPERATION OF DOCKING 6/ 



the tail must be artificially propped, and the wound will 

 heal quickly. But even this slight operation is dangerous to 

 the horse, and he suffers much pain.' 



Do you consider the mane also so important ? 



'The mane and forelock should always be cultivated, 

 for they are a very great protection against sunstroke. To 

 cut off the mane is, therefore, to uncover a sensitive part 

 of the neck and head, to annihilate a beauty, and to defeat 

 Nature's meaning in her wise bestowal of what she deems 

 a necessity, or she would not have given it. What would 

 you think of a little colt coming into the world with an 

 ass's mane and a docked tail? Would you admire it? ' 



Well, it might bring its owner an income as one of 

 Nature's freaks, like the double-headed calf, or the four- 

 legged chicken, if exhibited in a menagerie. But I doubt 

 if a horse artificially deprived would be seen in company 

 with one ready made, so to speak, born with a banged 

 mane and a docked tail. 



' Of course, madam, you know that all accounts of the 

 prehistoric horse, which was little larger than a sheep, prove 

 his tail to have been prehensile. To him it was as much of 

 an absolute necessity as it is to the monkey to-day, who finds 

 it indispensable as a hand in climbing from bough to bough, 

 in swinging forward to catch the swaying limb of a tree, 

 and in all his nimble movements a wonderful means of 

 defence, progression or escape.' 



And you consider the tail of our modern horse as 

 essential to his comfort, well-being and personal beauty, 

 although no longer prehensile, as was that of his prehistoric 

 ancestor ? 



' Undoubtedly, notwithstanding the efforts of a silly 

 fashion to prove the contrary. It is certainly past finding 



