172 ' THE PERFECT HORSE. 



deliberately fills his stalls with vicious colts ? Logically, 

 the same answer would be returned; and this is the 

 WAy that every right-minded breeder regards it. Neither 

 beauty nor speed in a horse can make amends for a 

 vicious temper; because a vicious temper in a horse 

 imperils human life, and whatever does this is by that 

 fact condemned. And so I say, that no vicious colt is 

 worth the breaking. He is unfit for the purposes of 

 civilization. He should be treated as any other ferocious 

 and dangerous animal should be treated, — killed at 

 sight. But some colts, while they are not actually 

 vicious, are not truly amiable. They represent an inter- 

 mediate class, lying between the really docile and the 

 ungovernable ; and are, hence, objects of interest to all 

 owners and trainers. It is doubtful if any general rule 

 or rules can be made to apply to this class of animals, 

 because their faults and vices are not the same, but indi- 

 vidual, differing in different cases. Still I will glance at 

 some of the more prominent failings or vices of this 

 class of animals, and suggest, so far as one can without 

 a personal knowledge of each subject, the proper method 

 of treatment. 



First of all, we must observe this principle, — that pun- 

 ishment alone can never eradicate viciousness, especially 

 if the subject of it has a high-spirited organization. 

 Whipping alone never reformed a bad child. The lash 

 never makes a vicious colt amiable. It may change the 

 mode or the time of its manifestation ; but the inherent 

 ugliness will, seizing some favorable moment, break 



