'HANDS' AND OTHER MATTERS 147 



whatever, and she jumped as if she had never 

 raced over fences in her Ufe. 



I do not think people generally give horses 

 sufficient credit for intelligence. A horse that has 

 been well treated will do practically anything 

 required of him, as long as he does really under- 

 stand what is wanted and has been shown how to 

 do it. Most of our troubles with horses are our 

 own fault. They are frightened at the prospect 

 of punishment and nervous of falling, and when 

 in that condition are very " stupid " indeed. But 

 once he has gained confidence, then he can be 

 raced, or hunted, or hacked, or jumped, and he 

 will be the same with us every day — a " trusted, 

 well-beloved " servant, because the confidence is 

 mutual. 



But this standard cannot be attained with horses 

 that have been spoilt in the past. Once it has gone 

 it will never return. A horse that, because he has 

 been overfaced as a youngster, has taken to 

 refusing, may never entirely lose the habit. A 

 horse that has once been sickened of racing may 

 never be made to race again. So that very much 

 depends upon how we train our young horses, and 

 those of us who are unable to keep or train young 

 stock must suffer for the misdeeds of stable lads, 

 or farmers' boys, or rough riders. The faults are 

 irremediable then, but the blame must rest upon 

 the right shoulders. 



Horses will be " hot" in accordance with their 

 nature, and it is not a question of whether they 

 have been galloped or not. The " hottest" horse 



