The Horse 16^ 



tween the herd and the drove. The drove is 

 a number of live beasts, gathered and driven 

 ofFto sale or shipment. A herd is likewise 

 a number of live beasts, but driven only casu- 

 ally, as from pasture to pasture, and feeding 

 and being used together. In every herd of 

 horses there is a leader, usually a mare. She 

 it is who breaks in or out and runs prancing 

 and nickering about, with the rest tumbling 

 at her heels. She has memory, also judgment. 

 In trying a fence, she always selects first the 

 spot, if such a spot there is, where she has made 

 a breach before. If she finds it inconveniently 

 strengthened she goes pacing up and down 

 the whole length of the fence, setting her breast 

 against each panel, at each third or fourth one 

 rising in tentative measuring half-leap's. When 

 she finds a weak panel, or one that gives to 

 her impulse, she takes the jump standing, then 

 neighs a call to the rest. They come on the 

 dead run, and jump through the gap she has 

 made. Unless a gap has been made, or there 

 is a space of fence enticingly low and bare 

 of hedgerow growth, very few horses will 

 venture upon a running leap over it. 



There is a slight anarchist leaven in every- 

 thing on four hoofs. Horses, mules, hogs, 

 cattle, even sheep, appear to regard a fence as a 

 challenge — something they are in honor bound 

 to go over, under or through. The horses 



