34 THE MIND OF THE HORSE 



bcliind, and even upon the man mounting or dri- 

 vini»; liim. 



Ears depressed backwards signify: a sensation 

 of tiolvling; objection to being approaclied; fear of 

 man and expectation of ill-treatment; a disposition 

 to kick or bite; objection to being approaclied by 

 any other horse and intention to kick at him. This 

 sign precedes or accomx)anies kicking, pawing or 

 biting. His looking and directing the ears towards 

 an obstacle whilst being guided toAvards it means 

 that he intends springing over it, that he is con- 

 sidering liow to prepare for springing over it and 

 how he may arrive with accelerated speed at a 

 proper distance for jumping over it. This is however 

 not a certain sign that he Avill jump over, as on 

 approaching he may be impressed with the idea of 

 not being capable of doing it. Mobility of the ears, 

 one forward and the other backwards was regarded 

 by horsemen of the sixteenth century as a special 

 sign of viciousness and evil intentions and as pre- 

 ceding some freak of self-will. 



The horse neighs in all tones and each tone has 

 a s})ecial significance. He neighs in order to attract 



