296 THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG HORSES. 



no opportunity of trying our hands on tliis quad- 

 ruped. And Oliver Goldsmith says, after speak- 

 ing of the ferocity of the zebra, " Notwithstanding 

 this, I believe, were the zebra taken up very young 

 and properly treated, it might be made as tame as 

 another animal; and Merolla, who saw many of 

 them, asserts that when tamed (which he speaks 

 of as being common enough) they are not less 

 estimable for their swiftness than their beauty." 

 Again, Dapper informs us that four zebras were 

 sent from Africa purposely to draw the coach of 

 the King of Portugal, and that the experiment was 

 attended with complete success. 



My present object, however, is to enlarge on the 

 nature, management, and education of young 

 horses. In the first place, then, the horse is natu- 

 rally nervous and timid ; I have seen some with 

 every pore in their skin distilling with perspiration, 

 and have heard others scream from terror. To 

 what are so many accidents with horses attri- 

 butable ? We hear constantly of their taking 

 fright at some object or noise to which they have 

 been unaccustomed, running away, dashing car- 

 riages to pieces, or throwing their riders. What 

 so common a fault with horses as shying at ob- 

 jects on the road, or terrified by a bird fluttering 

 out of a hedge ? I could adduce hundreds of inci- 



