SOME CURIOUS HORSES 255 



horse if I would let them have her back ; and, on 

 my taking no notice of this, actually wrote again 

 and offered me £100. 



Curiously enough, the mare would go into and 

 out of a strange stable quite quietly, but directly 

 she got accustomed to it began the rushing game. 



This mare was perfect with that one exception, 

 and did not know what fear was. If a gun was 

 fired close to her, she would not take the least 

 notice, and would allow a rifle to be fired under 

 her nose, with the reins on her neck, and not even 

 move her head. 



I always believe that shying and all that kind of 

 trick in a horse is the fault, in nearly every case, 

 of the rider. Of course there are differences of 

 temperament in horses as in men, but as a rule, 

 what I have stated is the case, and I once had 

 what I consider a remarkable illustration of it. 



I was on the staff at the first autumn manoeuvres 

 in the Aldershot district in 1871, and one day I 

 was riding back to camp after a heavy day, when I 

 met a friend — a cavalry officer. We stopped to 

 talk over the day, and just as we were parting he 

 said to me, " Oh, I have a lot of horses eating 

 their heads off; if you would take one and ride it, 

 it would save yours and do mine good." I of course 

 accepted the offer with thanks, saying at the same 



