30 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



mistakes, perhaps in babyhood, had caused appre- 

 hensions which, while dimmed, had never been for- 

 gotten. 



The horse is a bully, and is always on the watch 

 to take advantage and to evade obligations. He 

 will " size you up " in a moment. The animal that 

 walks sedately off with A will put B flat on his 

 back; the roadster that " plays the fool " and shies 

 at everything with C, will face fire, flood, and any- 

 thing, when D's steady nerve telegraphs through 

 the reins that all this " bluffing " must stop, and that 

 discipline will be enforced. All intercourse should, 

 upon the part of the man, be calm and good-natured, 

 but firm, prompt, and decided, and if you are not 

 up to the mark physically or mentally your horse 

 knows it at once, whether you realise it or not. 



Memory it is that ensures us protection from the 

 animal's propensity to bully us. He never forgets 

 that he did not succeed the first time he tried it, but 

 was signally defeated — and perhaps well punished 

 for his insubordination. In the same way he never 

 forgets that he failed in his efforts to kick, to rear, 



