208 East and West 
were as surefooted as any mule could possibly 
be, but I have observed that it is not always 
safe to trust their judgment in a dangerous 
bit of trail through loose gravel or shale which 
is likely to give way, and I have known ex- 
perienced horses when ridden by inexperi- 
enced riders to step on such places and go 
over the bank. It is said that a mule will not 
do this. If the ground looks firm, the horse 
certainly does not reason as to whether appear- 
ances may be deceptive. A horse may be 
extremely cautious about entering a muddy 
stream because of uncertainty as to the depth 
and the nature of the bottom, yet I have had 
a horse go unsuspectingly into dangerous 
quicksand with me which appeared safe 
enough, but from which he was with the 
greatest difficulty extricated. The tendency 
of all trail horses, especially if they have 
ever been pack animals, is to keep to the 
outer edge of the trail, doubtless for fear of 
being pushed over by striking some projec- 
tion from the bank, and also to be in posi- 
tion to throw themselves in if they find they 
are going over. In crossing landslides on 
narrow trails it is expedient to keep a horse 
in; otherwise he may generally be left to pick 
his way for himself. 
