36 THE MIND OP THE HORSE 



fear. He trembles on perceiving the odour of Avild 

 beasts. Eroiu all these signs, if they have been stu- 

 died, it is possible to understand what the horse 

 thinks and foresee what he may desire to do, and 

 I)revent it. 



Signs of a desire to perform certain movements 



inferred from Ms attitudes 



and the positions he assumes. 



Tor making all his movements he first needs 

 to prepare his body by adopting suitable positions. 

 Therefore on seeing him take up a given preparatory 

 position, corresponding to a certain given action it 

 is possible to infer the movement he desires to make. 

 When standing firnily with body upright and not 

 inclined in any direction and with all four legs 

 equally straight he cannot move them. If he desires 

 to paw with one leg he inclines Jiis body to the 

 other side and backwards. When he desii-es to kick 

 he inclines Iiis body very much fbr-^\ ard and thro^vs 

 the weight of his body on the fore legs so as to 



