THE MIND OF THE HORSE 



brought into that collected position in which it 

 is possible to act mechanically on his body and to 

 make him go through the movements we desire, and 

 prevent him from making those he would wish. 



His excitability and facility to motion is the 

 basis on which his training and our dominion over 

 him are founded. We must endeavour to give this 

 excitability and readiness to go to the horse which 

 is without them, to the lazy one. The above is the 

 quality which essentially distinguishes the consti- 

 tution of the horse from that of the ass. Without 

 it the horse would be on the same level as the 

 ass, superior to the latter only in form and appea- 

 rance. 



To remain still when free and alone in the 

 open air is incompatible with his excitability and 

 readiness to motion and must not be required from 

 him. He will remain still if he is occupied in 

 grazing, or if he is extremely tired, but only as 

 hmg as he is not excited by some cause. 



His excitability prompts him to run on seeing 

 anything moving, and whilst he is running he is 

 induced to run still faster on seeing that someone 



