Experiments with the Robe. 55 



Every one that has ever paid any attention to the 

 horse, has noticed his natural inclination to smell of 

 everything which to him looks new and frightful. This 

 is their strange mode of examining everything. And, 

 when they are frightened at anything, though they 

 look at it sharply, they seem to have no confidence in 

 this optical examination alone, but must touch it with 

 the nose before they are entirely satisfied ; and as soon 

 as this is done, all is right. 



EXPERIMENT WITH THE ROBE. 



If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic 

 of the horse, and learn something of importance con- 

 cerning the peculiarities of his nature, etc., turn him 

 into the barnyard, or a large stable will do. And then 

 gather up something that you know will frighten him ; 

 a red blanket, buffalo robe, or something of that kind. 

 Hold it up so that he can see it, he will stick up his 

 head and snort. Then throw it down somewhere in 

 the centre of the yard or barn, and walk off to one side. 

 Watch his motions, and study his nature. If he is 

 frightened at the object, he will not rest until he has 

 touched it with his nose. You will see him begin to 

 walk around the robe and snort, all the time getting a 

 little closer, as if drawn up by some magic spell, until 

 he finally gets within reach of it. He will then very 

 cautiously stretch out his neck as far as he can reach, 

 nearly touching it with his nose, as though he thought 

 it was ready to fly at him. But after he has repeated 

 these touches a few times, for the first, (though he has 

 been looking at it all the time,) he seems to have an 

 idea of what it is- But now he has found, by the sense 



