230 FEAR 



injured by them, and if lie were not afraid of pu- 

 nishments it would not be possible to get the mas- 

 tery over his will, and reduce him to obedience 

 and submission. Horses raised at liberty are afraid 

 of ditches and holes, and do not fall into them, 

 because they liave already had experience of them, 

 have already put their feet in them, have already 

 hurt themselves or fallen, and are on their guard 

 against them. This fear is an evil which tends to 

 make them avoid greater evils. The horse which 

 always goes along the road and becomes accusto- 

 med to pass over the dark patches formed by pud- 

 dles or wet road, and has never met with an acci- 

 dent, will, if the coachman guides him to it, go 

 into a hole which to him has the appearance of 

 wet ground, and of his own accord will not think 

 of avoiding it. In this case liis not being afraid 

 is no advantage, and it would be better if he were. 



Causes of fear. 



The fear of the horse is caused: — by a real 

 evil which has happened to him in the presence 



