ON THE EDUCATION OF THE HORSE. 
563 
A remarkable anecdote, shewing the force of habit in horses, 
is related by Southey, in his History of the Peninsular War. 
The historian gives it on the authority of Sir Richard Keats; 
it is, therefore, undoubted. The circumstance occurred during 
Romana’s escape from the territory of Denmark. Two of the 
regiments (Spanish) which had been quartered in Funen w 7 ere 
cavalry, mounted on the fine black long-tailed Andalusian 
horses. It was impossible to bring off these horses, about 1100 
in number; and Romana w 7 as not a man who could order them 
to be destroyed, lest they should fall into the hands of the French. 
He was fond of horses himself, and knew that every man was 
attached to the beast which had carried him so far and so faith¬ 
fully. Their bridles, therefore, were taken off, and they were 
turned loose upon the beach. As they moved off, they passed 
some of the country horses and mares which were feeding at a 
little distance. A scene ensued such as probably never before 
was witnessed. The Spanish horses are not mutilated, and they 
w r ere sensible that they were no longer under any restraint of 
human power. A general conflict ensued, in which, retaining 
the discipline they had learnt, they charged each other in 
squadrons of ten or twenty together; then closely engaged, 
striking with their fore feet, and biting and tearing each other 
with the most ferocious rage, and trampling over those which 
were beaten dow r n, till the shore, in the course of a quarter of an 
hour, was strewn with the dead and disabled. Part of them had 
been set free on a rising ground at some distance; they no 
sooner heard the roar of the battle, than they came thundering 
down over the intermediate hedges, and, catching the contagious 
madness, plunged into the fight with equal fury. Sublime as 
the scene was, it was too horrible to be long contemplated ; and 
Romana, in mercy, gave orders for destroying them : but it was 
found too dangerous to attempt this; and after the last boats 
quitted the beach, the few horses that remained were seen still 
engaged in the dreadful work of mutual destruction.” 
This story has led to a supposition that horses possess 
natural belligerent propensities. Zenophon remarks, that {i the 
Athenian war horses were taught to swim, rear, kick, and bite 
whether the Spanish horses ever received such an education, 
perhaps some of the readers of The Veterinarian will be 
able to inform us. 
W. F. K. presents his compliments to Mr. Pritchard, and 
begs to inform him, that he is extremely sorry he should have 
written any thing to 
“ Exasperate, cxiilccralc, ami raise 
Dire inflammation 
