140 HORSES: 



cruel ; and the wonder is that the colt develops into 

 a condition of docility, patience, and usefulness, which 

 is rather typical than otherwise of the horse generally. 

 With his highly organized brain, sensitive tempera- 

 ment, great strength, capabilities of resistance, the 

 horse by appropriate training could be rendered much 

 more efficient than he averages. This is shown by 

 occasionally meeting with a noble specimen of the 

 equine family which has fallen into considerate hands, 

 and the capabilities of intelligence in such a case are 

 astonishing, and the sarcastic remark which L often 

 heard, ' That horse knows more than his master,' 

 seems warranted. The deficiencies in horse-training 

 generally arise from a lack of understanding of the 

 nature of the animal, and without such an understand- 

 ing it is impossible to set on foot a system which shall 

 be definite and efficient. Mr. Dennis Magner, whose 

 reputation as a horse-trainer is very extensive in this 

 country, states that ' There are three natural difficul- 

 ties which present themselves in the outset of a horse's 

 education. First, the horse is much stronger than 

 man, and this fact the animal is intelligent enough to 

 perceive very promptly ; and if he can impose it -to 

 improper treatment he is likely to do it and thus re- 

 sist the control of his master, and whatever gain there 

 is on his part in such resistance, encourages him to 

 further impatience of control, and finally he may be- 

 come unmanageable and vicious. 



" ' The second difficulty arises from his methods of 

 reasoning, which must be intelligently exercised so as 

 to prevent his becoming excited or frightened at boys 



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