The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-01-12
Extremes Of Intelligence AID DISpOsi-
fiOn In Horses.

In studying animal nature, we find
a general law that the larger and more
active the brain, the more intelligence
and dOcility is exhibited; and the
smaller and more sluggish the brain,
the less intelligence is possessed, and
the more determined and active the
resistance to control. Consequently
we have great extremes and all utter
mediate notifications Of disposition
and character, according to the quail
ty and amount Of brain and the dlf-
/ ferent predOminating faculties. Each
type of character is in harmony with
I this law, in the wild and more savage
Of the lower animals, as well a. those
Of the domestic classes. We not un-
I frequently find marked extremes OF
disposition, even in the same family.
| For instance, one dog is model Of
dOciiity and obedience, while another
/ is surly. cross and savage. In al
most every herd Of farm animals VIII
( be found one more wild or vicious than
the others. One COW, one OK, or mule
| is more tfmid, or ugly, or difficult and
1 DANGEROUS to manage than the rest !;
/ and by a similar law We find these va
rioUs dispositions accompa nled Dy
! greater or less degrees Of vitality,-it
I being usually the case that those nat
uraIly wild and vicious animals are
much hardy and enduring than others.
The horse affords, perhaps, the best
{ Illustration of the diversity Of these
characteristics. We find that in pro-
portion as there is predominance Of
/ the lower and more savage character
/ istics Of animal nature, there is stub
| bornness of character and power of
/ endurance; and to the degree that an
| irlaI intelligence and fine sensibility
| are in excess of the coarse and stubborn
/ traits, there will be tractableness and
docility-though perhaps the hardi-
ness and vitality may be somewhat
! less; yet this is not necessarily the
1 case.
The lama, having but little Of this
/ coarse nature, will not bear abuse, but
will lie down discouraged and die, if
overloaded and not relieved. The
! camel, Of a less sensitive type, will
toll patiently and nobly under the
heaviest burdens, nieekly submitting
to almost any extreme of abuse. The
ass, mule and mustang, having a iarg-
| er share of cOmDative disposition, are
more obstinate and Willful, and are
usually more difficult to manage.
! Where there is great predisposition
! to resistance, more vitality and en-
! durance may be anticipated, but pro-
portionably more skill and judgment
! will be necessary to secure obedience
and docility. This is also true with
| regard to other animals. Those of a
nervous temperament, with but little
of the coarse nature, do not need the
/ whip, and will most readily yield
obedience to kind and gentle treat
ment, while those of high courage and
strong viii, resist control with greater
violence and more obstinate energy.
| The slow, cOld-blOOded, dull horse,
may work kind and gentle from the
first time he is harnessed, while the
quick, warm-blooded, sensitive horse,
! is usually nervous and eXcitable, and
must be "wOrked in" gradually, and
managed with more skill and patience
to insure perfect submission to the re-
straint of harness and wagon. This
class of horses, more frequently found
among thorough-breds, when fully
aroused or greatly excited by fear, are
( terribly reckless and desperate in their
resistance, and require not only very
carefully, butvery thorough treatment
and must be made to yield prompt
! obedience to the control Of the bit and
every word OF command.-Pfof. Nag
neT on the Education Of the Horse.