The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-03-27
GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
EQUINE Intelligence.

A.,be intelligence OF animals IL no new
subject, perhaps nolhins ne" can We sai' i
reg,rdi,, it, but it j. q III leet tnat VII!
nesr renetition A. .ong a. nau aud AMI
,nais continue to.tNlsL For, do not We
.,.,, CORY dav some Of our fellow men
gho Mood To be reminded of the very evil
.lent fsct that their Intellect isn't 80
unrh .nn.rior. alter ali, to that OF DUMB
rr..,ur.ss Living on farm where
morse. cattle. sheep and pigs are kept
gives one a good opportunity 10 STUDY
these representatives OF the animal king
dom and | find that indeed their intelii-
gence is surprising.
believe that horses and dogs are the
most sagacious II all the animals that In
habit this terrestrial sphere. Il suppose
the happy possessors OF dear little pood-
/ = and ''precious pugs' will be pleased
70 read this senten e. But as we do not
Keep dogs, and am not partial to those
of nv peiphboss, and am very fond Of
horses. | snail make the intelligence Of
the latter the subject Of my remarks.
We hear and read of the wonderful
feats performed by trained horses, out 10
". think a. we see the horse every day,
of his capability 10 understand. OF the
likeness OF his actions 10 those OF human
beings? There is the sensitive nervous
morse which keeps ali mis- feet In the air
Al the same time 4 the whip Is brought
anywhere near him. so Ike the nervous
man, who, on becoming excited eau
hardly tell whats his name or where ne
lives; the balky or 'ntrary morse, IKE
surly child refusing TO MIND It's mother
the horse that strides along IN lazy
fashion. reminding uS Of the easy going
&,
nan VINO lets tO-mofroW take care OF IL
self
We hear Of this horse that kicks,
another that bites, and 50 on through the
list OF ii horses SINS, never stopping 10
wonder if there are causes for such dis
plays of ugliness. If we DID thlnk we
would be surprised at the number OF
lines We should lind the horse was justi-
he'd in his action. ID you blame horses
for showing some temper II you know
they have been cruelty auusedI OF course
not. If they are kindly cared for. no ami
NAL eau show more affection, One day
not long ago | witnessed the following
incident Young man was Harvesting
4 mare which he had rs he expressed 1t,
made a baby OF from colt As he was
9uckliDg a girth. friend standing near
pushed him little. Qlick as Hash the
mare bit at the offender and hen rested
ner nose on masters back with look
If affection which spoke more plainly
than wOrds
A mans horse should, like his children,
ne taught to obey rs well as love him
but if a man shows the least timldity near
d horse the animal only too quickly re-
cognlzes the fact and seems To enjoy an
moving him. Are not such horses like the
human beings who enjoy exerclsiDg theiI
authority over weak mortals that may
Tor some reason be under their control
What man, while riding in a dark night
does not let the reins be loose, trusting
mis- faithful steed to keep the road! Whit
out Intelligence gives horse power io
distinguish child from manf
there was on our farm for many year,
a horse known as "Old jim" He would
invariably kick If touched with a whip
while he was standing III the stable. Doe
.iay, MY sister, Ihvu a very Email enid
vas found In tie stable switching "Old
jim about the legs with small stick
she bad picked up. The horse, though
,honiug his dislike to such perform
ance by getting as far away as possible,
never offered to harm the child, who en-
loved seeing him move around. 1t was
odd jim" that took US to school on
stUTlny dd1s III WHICH, Soihb hoihS WIN
out driver, and lie was the horse that
drove home from our village, distance
of three miles, when | WAS three year.
old.
Isn't this every day intelligence of Q
horse Just as wonderful as that shown OIL
special occasions by horses tina, have beer
purposely trained for days, weeks and
months Give q horse the credit due him
then. Treat him as II he knew something
aud possessed the sense OF feeling
Horse and Stable