THE HORSE. 85 



antiquity : indeed I doubt if a single instance 

 could be brought forward where a truly congenital 

 instinct in one of our domestic animals can be 

 traced, either directly or indirectly, to human 

 influence. A further indication of the natural 

 basis of the habit of buck-jumping is the fact that 

 young colts of all breeds go through the per- 

 formance when at play ; and almost any nag, 

 when first turned loose at pasture, will lower his 

 head and hump his back and give two or three 

 vigorous hoists by way of showing that he is 

 happy. Now, natural play is without exception 

 of educative value. Nature had adopted this 

 method of "teaching the young idea" skill in the 

 use of its limbs and weapons both for purposes 

 of war with our own kind and for purposes of 

 defence agfainst carnivorous foes. When, there- 

 fore, one sees any habitual action indulged in by 

 young animals at play, it is safe to say that it is 

 instinctive and extremely ancient, and, moreover, 

 that it was at one time necessary as a preparation 

 for the serious business of wild life. Any one 

 who has seen an accomplished buck -jumper rid 

 himself of his rider and his saddle, in spite of 

 girths and crupper, will be convinced that a 

 leopard, or any beast of a similar kind, would 



