The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



newly turned up, show where the ponies had 

 crossed the stream, and Disciple on the slope 

 breaks into a canter and jumps wide with a 

 mighty leap, and on the other side you have to 

 pull him back into his walk. 



There is nothing like the soHtary ride, to get 

 to know your horse to his core. A quest such 

 as this shows you his manner of thought, and 

 the things that direct him. You learn the 

 world as it looks to a horse ; learn what he 

 notices, what attracts him, what he disregards 

 and what he dislikes. When you get really 

 skilled in this outlook, the interest of the soH- 

 tary ride becomes absorbing. Every incident 

 tells you something new, something fresh ; 

 gives you weird facts ^o ponder over. Learn 

 this horse-world from the different points of 

 view of the mare, gelding, and staUion. They 

 are quite distinct. Each has a different out- 

 look, and is actuated by differing stimuh, or 

 differently by the same stimuli. The con- 

 trasts are a study in themselves ; are especially 

 curious between the entire and the gelding : 

 more curious still in a hybrid — the mule. But 

 the staUion is the horse to ride for true com- 

 radeship, for multiplicity of interest, and for 

 the deepest insight into the working of the 

 equine mind. Try it and see. 



At the end of his rush Disciple examines 

 his ground, which is still pretty bare under 

 the beeches ; catches sight of the hoof marks 



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