AFFECTION. 21 



not unusually adopt orphan foals if they get the opportunity 

 of doing so. As a horse's affection, apart from sexual or 

 maternal motives, seems to be dependent on his instinct 

 of gregariousness, and as mankind can in no way become 

 objects of this instinct ; his fondness for us rarely exceeds 

 cupboard love, or mere tolerance. Unless he be influenced 

 by fear, he will take the proffered carrot or other dainty 

 as readily from the hand of a stranger as from that of his 

 master or mistress, separation from whom has never been 

 known to injuriously affect his appetite. I think we must 

 accept the fact that his affection towards man, however 

 highly it may be cultivated, is too slight to admit of its 

 being utilised in our service. I have observed that horses 

 in whom the instinct of gregariousness is strongly developed, 

 are frequently sulky, or at least have their hearts somewhat 

 " behind their work " when alone, evidently on account of 

 their thoughts being with their absent companion or com- 

 panions, instead of with the business at which they are en- 

 gaged. The horse exhibits little or no lovefoi' the admiration 

 of man, which in the dog is a valuable means of education. 

 We may often find a dog striving to win our approval by 

 bringing us a stone to throw away, and thus to give him an 

 opportunity of showing us his cleverness by retrieving it. 



The sexual or reproductive instinct is often a great hin- 

 drance to the success of equine education. Some mares 

 are always more or less *' in season," or are liable to become 

 so if anything rubs against their hind quarters. When 

 afflicted with this form of nymphomania, they are, as a 

 rule, "jady," apt to kick, and otherwise unreliable. The 

 entire, from combativeness engendered by sexual rivalry, 



