HOW TO TRAIN A COLT. 155 



SO endowed with high organizations and subtle forces, 

 that they are able to apprehend and communicate pleas- 

 ure ; and to no class does this fact apply with greater 

 force than to that one, the members of which are evi- 

 dently designed by the Creator to be both servant and 

 companion to man. Kindness to animals is, as I under- 

 stand it, therefore, a duty, an obligation, resting on 

 every one with the force of a moral injunction. Indeed, 

 God so ranks it in his Holy Word, and gave it honora- 

 ble place in his ancient legislation. The horse has a 

 Jieart-claim upon us. The young colt is, in some sense, 

 a member of the family, one of the owner's household, 

 second in rank and dignity only to the children. So 

 the Arab regards him. The beautiful young thing, 

 with its shining coat and gazelle eyes and sprightly 

 antics, so full of bounding but docile life, is literally his 

 children's playmate. He shares their food, and often 

 their sleeping-mat ; and a blow dealt him is as promptly 

 resented as if it had been dealt the oldest son, for 

 whose service in peace, and safety in the hour of battle, 

 the young thing is being raised. 



When the colt is three weeks old, or thereabouts, he 

 should be broken to the halter. And this should be 

 done properly ; for this is the first act which brings his 

 will and strength in opposition to man's, and should 

 be so done as to convey clearly and decidedly man's 

 superiority, and his inability to contend with him. 

 Early impressions in the case of animals, as truly as in 

 the case of children, are lasting ; and here and now, in 



