6 THE MIND OF THE HORSE 



after having gone througli them several times, on 

 the first signals he guesses the movements he is 

 required to make and does them by himself. 



Excitahility to motion pecvliar to the horse. 



The principal characteristic of the horse is a 

 peculiar nervous excitability, so that on the sligh- 

 test sound, gesture, provocation, threat or touch 

 he puts himself in motion and runs. The extreme 

 excitability of his nerves or the facility with which 

 he puts himself in motion at the slightest insti- 

 gation or signal is his most precious quality for us. 



This quality is in harmony with the purpose 

 for which he was intended, which is that of motion 

 and of serving a useful purpose by motion. His 

 excitability and the facility with which he is put 

 in motion makes him amenable to our aids and 

 punishments for exciting him to go and gives us 

 the means of masterv over him bv the aid of our 

 hands, because it is by means of his motion and 

 during his motion that the horse may be brought 

 in hand by the aid of the reins, i. e. may be 



