72 THE HORSE 



must, in order to effect a real cure, go beyond 

 any mere coercive treatment and look for the 

 cause of the trouble where it really is — in the 

 nervous system. The way in which this nervous 

 disorder operates may be illustrated by a phase in 

 human nature familiar to all. 



A boy is afraid of the dark, although he knows 

 his fear is foolish and that there is nothing to hurt 

 him. He goes into a dark cellar twenty or thirty 

 times, always holding his unreasoning fear in 

 check by an effort of his will. But there comes 

 a time when, his nervous mechanism not being in 

 as good order as usual, his fear gets the best of 

 him and he makes a mad rush for the door. He 

 knows there is nothing in pursuit, but he has lost 

 his self-control and is in as abject fear as though 

 menaced by a real danger. 



The case of the neurotic shyer is of like kind. 

 The horse has learned that the object he once 

 feared will not hurt him, but the association of 

 ideas is such that a slight effort of his will is nec- 

 essary, each time he passes it, to hold his fear in 

 check. But some day, when his nerves are a trifle 

 out of order, even this slight effort becomes im- 

 possible. 



I have owned and also treated for others a num- 

 ber of neurotic shyers and bolters, and they Were 

 all horses that had a large percentage of warm 



