XVI PREFACE. 



tributing to their happiness. As 1 am confident that 

 some people would ridicule this idea, I will endeavour to 

 describe the various sensations which I imagine must be 

 experienced by a horse in the full possession of health. 

 From the time he is led out of his stable to go a journey 

 or follow the hounds, until he returns home again, what 

 is called freshness is the result of pleasurable sensations, 

 superabundant vitality, a desire to give free vent to 

 high spirits, a longing for unrestrained exercise of his 

 muscular powers, just as boys, liberated from school after 

 long hours of application to their studies, give expression 

 in various ways to the pleasure with which they regard 

 their release. 



After a time a horse settles down ; he has then reached 

 the point at which his expressions of delight are modified 

 by the labour he is called upon to perform, although 

 this labour does not as yet materially interfere with the 

 sensation of pleasure he experiences. After a time he feels 

 some little fatigue, this at once quenches his spirit; he 

 then enters upon a period where all exertion has ceased 

 to be regarded by him with pleasure, and this causes him 

 to relax his efforts and reduce his speed, which the 

 driver's whip frequently urges him to maintain. In this 

 condition he returns to the stable from which he started ; 

 but if, in the charge of a careful and conscientious groom, 

 he be well fed, well groomed, and well cared for, his 

 happiness may possibly return, although he is too fatigued 

 to allow it to be apparent by any outward and manifest 

 exhibition of feeling on his part. I have no doubt that 

 what I have remarked is the case. A dog who bounds 

 around his master barking and wagging his tail on being 

 let loose from his kennel must surely experience some 

 feeling of happiness, and so I have no doubt does a horse 

 when he is what we denominate " fresh." 



The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

 have done a great deal of good work when mercifully 

 interfering to protect animals from ill-usage, and, with all 



