44 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



which was perfectly understood, as it immedi- 

 ately caused the tail to wag again. Thus the 

 '' kicking-end," controlled by a reminder from 

 the " biting and thinking end," completely 

 overcame the worst effect of the plague of 

 flies. Another instance of " horse sense " and 

 horse learning and evolution is supplied to us 

 all by the behaviour of horses nowadays when 

 they meet a motor-car, electric tram or other 

 horseless carriage. I remember the day — it 

 is not so many years ago — when my brother, 

 now chief city engineer in Calcutta, bought 

 the second motor-car that ever ran in Ireland. 

 It was an awful production that required to 

 have some part of its internal anatomy made 

 red-hot before you could start it. He took 

 me for a ride on it, and we caused such con- 

 sternation amongst the horses as we passed 

 along that I registered a vow — which vow I 

 have long ago broken — that I should never 

 again drive in such abominations. I remem- 

 ber at the Stillorgan railway bridge a most 

 beautiful pair of horses half jumped over the 

 bridge on to the railway-line. That incident 



