18 THE HORSE 



of the mountains are much unlike in endurance and 

 temperament. Both are largely of the same warm blood 

 on their sire's side and of mixed and warm-blooded 

 dams. It might be possible to place Clydesdale horses 

 on the Shetland Islands and preserve their size and 

 general characteristics by providing suitable and abun- 

 dant food and as warm and comfortable quarters as 

 are found in the valley of the Clyde. However, it 

 would appear to be wiser and more economical to choose 

 breeds of horses which have already become adapted to 

 climate, use and environment, rather than to change 

 food, environment and use to suit the breed. 



Those who have had much experience with horses 

 are often greatly disappointed in them at times. Some- 

 times they appear to learn rapidly, and then again they 

 seem to lose all their education and become semi- 

 maniacs. It is no uncommon thing to drive a horse 

 for years, trust him implicitly, assert that he would 

 not run away even if the harness broke and the wagon 

 ran against him, and then to find that the horse has 

 suddenly forgotten all his education and will lose his 

 self-possession and run away even if so much as a 

 leaf flutters down before him. A splendid driving mare 

 which had been used by the family with great pleasure 

 for years, without any provocation whatever, on a level 

 road, began kicking and did not cease until she had 

 freed herself from the carriage and had seriously and 

 permanently injured the two occupants. One old horse 

 which had been used by two generations of children to 

 transport them to school over a quiet road went crazy 

 (perhaps this is too strong a term), ran away and 



