THE HORSE'S EDUCATION 



to the animal, and whose presence is distasteful, 

 until it is found that from him come certain ad- 

 vantages in the way of care and food. Second, 

 the horse is an animal of one idea, and cannot be 

 expected to consider two or more matters intelli- 

 gently at one and the same time. This is, of 

 course, a part of the universal characteristics just 

 mentioned, and an essential portion, for it prompts 

 the one idea of terror of any strange object or 

 action ; the one idea of flight over or through all 

 obstacles. Through fire and flame he returns to 

 his blazing stall with the one idea of seeking the 

 sanctuary which has always proved to him the 

 safe and secure haven. Do not consider that 

 these statements are intended to in any way vilify 

 the animal, but let us try to realize distinctly his 

 mental limitations, and be governed by them in 

 our treatment of him. Nothing but his foolish- 

 ness allows man to so successfully hoodwink him 

 as to his powerlessness to evade the labor which 

 he does not enjoy, and to obtain from him the 

 services which he does not delight to render, but 

 which he imagines he cannot escape. 



As to the " education " of a horse, much de- 

 pends, of course, upon what will satisfy the owner : 

 whether the " three royal R's " are enough, or 



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