28 avery's own farrier. 



The stomach makes large demands on the circulation 

 of the blood, for the purpose of digestion; and as it and 

 the brain are like two mills on one stream, when one is 

 engaged to the full extent of the motive power the other 

 must suspend its operation. Therefore, the most favor- 

 able time to educate the spirited horse or learn him any 

 little trick you might wish to see him perform, is not 

 when his stomach is overloaded with food, for then it is 

 that the brain is most inactive and liable to forget what 

 you wish him to remember, neither would the best time 

 be wh^n he was suffering from hunger, for that alone 

 would occupy too much of his feeling to make a favor- 

 able impression in the right direction; but a medium 

 betw^een the two might be chosen to advantage, say half- 

 way between meals, which should be given him at regular 

 intervals. 



You have looked at that and probably had your laugh, 

 now look at this and ponder. Like the mind or any- 

 thing else, low and groveling as well as high, fast or 

 slow, will find its affinity as water finds its level. Well, 

 what is faster or quicker than lightning? Nothing, you 

 say. Well, what contains more electricity in the ani- 

 mal kingdom than some kinds of hair ? This accounts, 

 in a certain degree, for the great speed or velocity that 

 some of the canine species are enabled to make, which 

 are known to occupy considerable of their time in lick- 

 ing themselves, and in so doing fill all their food in the 

 stomach with hair. The cause of speed lies not in their 

 muscular power altogether, but for everything there is a 

 time and a purpose. 



I do not wish to detract from or claim any credit for 



