884 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



ate the rider's mounting on the right side or leading them from this 

 side ; others, worked in a team, will work only when they are placed 

 on the right side or on the left side ; still others will work only in 

 the shafts or in file ; some saddle-horses will not work in harness, 

 and vice versa; some become indocile when the rider or driver is 

 changed, etc. 



But there is no cause more important or more common than bad 

 treatment. It rebukes the horse, frightens him, and disposes him to 

 resist and to attack. Carters, coachmen, grooms, blacksmiths, riders, 

 and brutal masters are in most instances primarily culpable and respon- 

 sible for the vices which follow bad treatment, 



Pain, resulting from wounds on the surface of the body, from a 

 defective fitting and application of the harness, or from the use of 

 brushes and curry-combs whose stiffness is out of proportion to the 

 degree of sensibility of the skin, etc., produces the same effects upon 

 the disposition, and often renders the animal intractable. Thus, the 

 wounds in the region of the loins occasioned by the saddle are usually 

 so painful that the animal cannot be used, and kicks, rears, defends 

 himself, and absolutely refuses to allow his rider to mount him. 



During warm seasons the horse is more frequently vicious than 

 during cold weather. The heat enervates him, the cutaneous secretions, 

 being more abundant, irritate his skin, and the insects especially con- 

 stantly annoy him. Certain insects belonging to the diptera, as the gad- 

 fly and spider-fly, for example, torment him, stinging him sometimes in 

 the most sensitive regions ; he is very apt to become indocile, irritable, 

 and -even unmanageable when he is not accustomed to these annoyances. 



The influence of diverse physiological states should also be 

 mentioned. Some are connected with the function of reproduction ; 

 such are the sexual desires and maternity. Others depend upon a 

 defective conformation of the eyeballs. 



In the entire horse the sexual desires manifest themselves especially 

 in the spring and during the heated term of summer. At these two 

 periods of the year horses which at other times are gentle and docile 

 suddenly become excitable and stubborn. They have frequent erections, 

 neigh, plunge upon their grooms, and furiously kick and bite neighbor- 

 ing horses. Castration is often the only means of remedying this 

 condition, which, in certain cases, may have very serious consequences. 



Demoussy l says that " the mare also shows, by unequivocal signs, 

 the want of satisfying the desires of nature. The sexual organs 



1 Demoussy, loc. cit., p. 64, et suiv. 



