46 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



ing-machines when they saw them and heard 

 them above them in the air. I have no doubt 

 but that in a few years the mothers will have 

 told their offspring that cars parading about 

 in the air need not be a cause of serious 

 worry as they but seldom — comparatively — 

 fall, and there is no case on record of their 

 having fallen on a horse yet, so that in future 

 they need not stop grazing to worry about 

 flying-machines. I hope, too, that when 

 my principles are more universally adopted 

 horses may even show their resentment if put 

 into an undisinfected stable. I am satisfied 

 already that they like the smell of these, and 

 give a snort of satisfaction as they are led into 

 a freshly-disinfected stable. This sense of 

 smell, is, I am sure, very strongly developed 

 in the horse. In the late war in South Africa 

 my first mount there was a Boer pony, 

 and I am perfectly convinced that he could 

 smell barbed wire. He certainly gave me 

 ample notice of it by a peculiar snort 

 whenever we approached it on our night 

 marches. But I must not wander on giving 



