FAULTS INSEPARABLE FROM STABLES. 



239 



animal, in terror, skips about to avoid further punishment. The door 

 post is struck; the haunch is fractured, or the pain is inflicted which 

 renders the creature, with its retentive memory, ever after fearful when 

 passing through an entrance. 



BOLTING THROUGH THE STABLE DOOR. 



The ordinary life of a domesticated horse is so monotonous that 

 recollection of events cannot otherwise than be retained. The animal 

 subsequent to such a calamity, even though no bone should be fractured, 

 cannot gaze upon a door with calmness. In future, alarm is exhibited 

 whenever an entrance has to be approached. It cannot enter or quit its 

 abiding-place without displaying those symptoms of terror which to the 

 groom are the representatives only of inveterate "vice." The most 

 violent or the blandest of tones cannot restore placidity to the brain 

 which is troubled by fearful recollections. It is useless to coax, to 

 threaten, or to punish : the animal has no ability to assume its former 

 quietude when passing through the terrible opening. But it strives to 

 brace up its nerves for the perfprmance of the necessary act. All its 

 resolution is summoned, till, maddened by excitement, it wildly dashes 

 through the entrance, dragging after it the boy to whose custody the 

 more dangerous quadrupeds are usually intrusted by the prudent sagacity 

 of stable-men. 



