70 " Perfectly Trained^ 



trial, but for weeks afterwards he was nervous at 

 that particular hurdle, though at anything else he 

 went with his accustomed nerve. My friend and 

 I were both unaware of how his hands had erred, 

 but the horse's fine mouth had felt it. 



Patroclus is essentially a one-man horse. He 

 will always serve well for the wage of kindness, 

 but it would take a hard taskmaster but a short 

 week to transform him into the semblance of the 

 Biblical wild ass's colt. He will change his gaits 

 at will from any one to any other. But his rider's 

 hands must be steady and as skilled as his own 

 soft mouth, or how can the lesser mind compre- 

 hend .f* He may, at the bidding of uncertain reins, 

 change from gait to gait and foot to foot, seeking 

 to satisfy his ignorant rider, who, meanwhile, un- 

 able to catch his meaning, will dub him a stupid, 

 restless brute. A well-trained horse needs an 

 equally well-trained rider. 



XX. 



There are two kinds of " perfectly trained " 

 saddle horses. One is the well-drilled cow of the 

 riding-schools, fit only to give instruction to class 

 after class of beginners, and who is safe because 

 worked beyond his courage and endurance. The 

 other is the School-horse, of perfect vigor and 

 fine manners, who is obedient to the slightest 

 whim of the clever rider, but who is so entire an 



