6 PREFACE 



Although the brain of the animal is remarkably small, the horse 

 manifests, in quite a sufficient degree, the sagacity which fits it 

 for its condition. It is cheered by the voice of its master, and 

 responds readily to it. Its memory is peculiarly tenacious with 

 regard to localities, remembering a road it has once travelled for 

 a long period. Another peculiar feature is its great fondness for 

 caresses, and high susceptibility of attachment. In this latter 

 respect, for instance, should the master of the desert horse fall 

 from his saddle, the noble animal will stand by him till he rises, 

 and will neigh for assistance. In many ways a horse will show 

 the pleasure it feels in the presence of those who treat it with 

 kindness. Sometimes, also, it forms quite a strong attachment to 

 other animals which may have remained with it in its stall and 

 cheered its solitude. For instance, the Godolphin Barb, the 

 father of the English race-horse, so to speak, formed an attach- 

 ment with a cat, which used to sit upon its back when in the 

 stable, and nestle close to it when it lay down. Many other 

 such instances of affection could be narrated. 



As the horse is susceptible of kindness, so is it resentful of 

 wrongs. Even foals that have been cruelly treated have been 

 repeatedly known to remember the individual that wronged them, 

 and when full grown have sometimes tried to avenge the wrong. 

 Even harsh language used to a horse in the stall will cause its 

 pulse to rise many beats in a minute. Highly susceptible as the 

 horse is both to kindness and unkindness, it is no less open to 

 feelings of pride and rivalry. In processions and triumphal 

 displays it distinctly manifests the pleasure which it feels in the 

 gay trappings and glittering caparisons. The element of rivalry 

 also, to a very special degree, permeates the disposition of the 

 horse. Everyone has observed on the racecourse the ardour of 

 the rival horses, the impatience with which they wait the moment 



