84 MY horse; my love. 



can bear. With some horses it is dangerous even 

 to let go the curb, while with others the snaffle or 

 guiding-rein only is necessary." 



Horses are very differently broken, are they not? 



"While some have hard mouths, which means a 

 greater strength of resistance in the jaw and a defiant 

 way of showing it, others are so tender that it seems 

 cruel to use the curb. Force and will in the rider 

 are not to be always foremost in guiding; but a 

 coaxing word often makes a good understanding, and 

 the horse is most sensitive to kindness. His ears 

 are quick to catch a caressing sound. Few are really 

 vicious by inclination, and it must be some remem- 

 brance of a cruelty during their early training which 

 makes them so." 



But horses are widely different in disposition, are 

 they not? 



" They are the same as in man. Did you not read 

 lately of a horse trampling not only his master, but 

 his master's little son to death?" 



You refer to the stableman in New York who had 

 owned and fed the horse for four years? 



" It is the same. That horse must have been a 

 Percheron, for they are singularly revengeful and 

 never forget an injury." 



But what could the man have done, to provoke 

 the horse to commit such a horrible deed? 



" Some men are naturally overbearing, and take no 

 trouble to win the affection and good-will of the 

 animals under their charge. This man may have pun- 

 ished the horse unjustly, or have teased him or neg- 

 lected to feed him, or have done many other things 



