THE HORSE'S EDUCATION 



selves a spectacle to the general public by their 

 vocal gymnastics. The man who is eternally 

 cc Steady, old man," or " P-weep-p-p "-ing to 

 his horse is an infernal nuisance, and a menace 

 to every one within hearing. This wretched habit 

 causes you to spoil your own horse and to 

 needlessly irritate those of others ; you have no 

 possible right to persist in it, and some day it will 

 be interdicted, at least in park-ways and bridle- 

 paths, by strict regulations. 



If now your horse also comprehends the com- 

 mand " Back," he is indeed well equipped to prove 

 to you a thoroughly safe and satisfactory means of 

 transport, and to provide for you all the delights 

 to be so liberally gained from such outings. 

 Naturally horses vary greatly in their receptive 

 powers, and their intelligence is not always to be 

 gauged in the same notch. Every acquisition of 

 an accomplishment, every instance of implicit 

 obedience, renders much easier further advance in 

 the direction of higher education. Not only are 

 the body and muscles thus coerced, but obedience 

 follows more instantly as the futility of resistance 

 is understood, and there is practically no limita- 

 tion to the lengths to which this instruction may 

 proceed, allowing that the subject is not physically 



8? 



