The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



such an animal, other than hill ponies, are 

 rare, so that, when they do occur, they should 

 be cherished and made the most of, as an 

 enormous amount of pleasure can be got from 

 observation of the hereditary defences of the 

 horse, which, in such an example, are quite 

 extensively developed. 



The horse is a highly courageous animal, 

 but, throughout the ages, his chief defence 

 against danger has been his extreme vigilance 

 and ability to escape from trouble, instantly, 

 and at great speed. The nervousness of 

 highly-strung horses is an endowment of nature, 

 which in past times has preserved their remote 

 ancestors and the species ; so that the line 

 to be taken with an unbroken adult animal, 

 full of every kind of apprehension of harm 

 from man, is such complete disarmament of 

 suspicion, that it is never given the opportunity 

 to develop into active antagonism. 



The younger the animal is, the easier and 

 more quickly it can be trained into confidence 

 and affection. Remember that a wholly 

 unbroken adult is much less amenable, for it 

 has an already acquired stock of experience, 

 on which it acts, if scared, with unhesitating 

 impulse. It was promptness of decision and 

 action, as well as speed, which saved its remote 

 ancestors from becoming wolf or lion meat. 

 In approaching this work of breaking in, it is 

 most necessary to take into full account the 



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