THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE HORSE. ^^ 



barrels, we must be struck with the intelligent 

 manner in which the animal performs its duties ; 

 and it is among horses of this class that I have 

 always noticed the things which seemed to me to 

 show certain reasoning powers ; but even these 

 were never of a kind that would suggest that the 

 animals could be depended upon when beyond the 

 disciplining influence of the reins. The tricks of 

 performing horses, directed by indications of the 

 trainer's whip, exhibit careful training, but do not 

 prove superior intelligence, and even Signor Cor- 

 radini's horse Blondin was a mere machine that 

 moved only under the direction of its master. 



To obtain unfailing control over the horse, we 

 cannot depend upon its voluntary obedience, and 

 we must cultivate its involuntary muscular actions, 

 by which its movements are placed under our will. 

 The ' liberty-horse ' that is outside of the range of 

 the trainer s whip follows its own inclinations, but 

 the animal that has been drilled to yield to the bit 

 and answer to the spur obeys the indications of 

 the aids without reasonino^ and without resisting. 

 This control over the horse can be established only 

 by long, patient, and carefully-directed work, and it 

 is foolish to suppose that any horse-taming methods 

 — some of which are effective enough in proving to 

 a wilful colt the inutility of struggling against its 

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