146 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
very hard mouth is absolutely dangerous to those who 
ride and drive him. If you do mount the horse, do not 
venture to do so until some of the stored-up muscular’ 
energy has had time to discharge itself—‘‘ freshness,” 
as it is called. Dr. Alexander Bain, in his great work, 
“The Senses and the Intellect,” will give you much 
information on this subject. He reviews the feelings of 
muscular exercise, first on their physical side, then on 
their mental side. In reviewing the mental side, he 
says: ‘Observation shows that this (feeling) is pleasur- 
able, indifferent, or painful, according to the condition 
of the system. The first outburst of muscular vigour 
in a healthy frame, after rest and nourishment, is highly 
pleasurable. The intensity of the pleasure gradually 
subsides into indifference; and if the exercise is pro: 
longed beyond a certain time, pain ensues.” During 
rest all the tissues get repaired, and in the muscles there 
is an accumulation of muscular energy with which the 
nervous system is mainly involved. The outburst of the 
first expenditure of this is accompanied by uncontrollable, 
pleasurable excitement, which, through continued move- 
ment, gradually subsides into indifference. I would 
earnestly recommend you to beware of this dangerous 
stored-up muscular energy. The more breeding and 
condition a horse has, the more can this muscular 
energy be stored up in him, “the better will he carry 
corn.” This is nowhere better seen than in the race- 
horse and hunter,—the former especially. In both cases 
enormous quantities of muscular energy can be stored. 
