100 
VICIOUS HORSES. 
one handle him in the stable or out; but if you laid hold of his neck 
as we frequently do by way of feeling the crest, he would seize one 
with all the ferocity of a bull-dog, and not let go very readily 
afterwards. Now this objection to be handled could not arise from 
any natural ferocity, for under such influence he would as readily 
have bitten on any other part of his body being touched, or on 
being approached. I make no doubt, had every circumstance that 
had occurred to him from a colt been traced, a cause for this pecu¬ 
liarity would be found, as it would for many other acts of the 
animal which we set down to sheer vice; and he gets very im¬ 
properly, ill-advisedly, and indeed unjustly, punished for that which 
does not exist. 
I will here bring forward an instance where a most valuable 
horse, the property of a friend, lately died a martyr to his resist¬ 
ance being set down to violence and impatience, when it solely 
arose from intense agony. He had had his arm broken by a kick 
from another horse, who got loose in the same stable. One of our 
leading veterinary surgeons was sent for, who very skilfully set 
and spliced up the broken bone, and the horse was put in a sling 
for support till the bone should have time to unite. He was one 
of the most placid and perfectly harmlessly disposed animals in 
existence; but, on his fore parts being raised up, he resisted most 
violently, nor could all the efforts of his groom, and those about 
him, in any way pacify him. No horse under the influence of 
hydrophobia could struggle more madly. This, with the exception 
of short intervals (when he remained quiet from absolute exhaus¬ 
tion), continued for two or three days, when he died frantic. On 
the body of the poor animal undergoing post-mortem examination, 
it was found that two or three of his ribs had also been broken ; 
of course, the pressure of the sling suspending him must have caused 
unspeakable agony, and accounted at once for his violence. I have 
no doubt many horses are punished, when little more to blame than 
the one I allude to. Every thing was done that art, ingenuity, or 
money could command, to render his suspension as comfortable as 
possible : there was only one thing wanting, namely, the suffering 
animal being able to tell why he resisted; and this disability is the 
occasion of more suffering and more unjust punishment where 
horses are concerned than we imagine. 
It may be said, in refutation of my excuse for many acts of appa¬ 
rent vice in the horse, that no excuse can be offered for his biting 
or kicking us, or attempting it, when we do nothing to hurt or 
annoy him. I will beg permission to ask any one making such an 
observation, did he never strike at—nay, kill—a wasp or bee that 
merely buzzed about his ears ? Why does he do so I He has 
perhaps been stung by one or both such insects, or, at all events, 
