St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-17
HORSE CHARACTER.
e Study of the Animal and His
Capabilities.

e Study of the Animal and His
Capabilities.
The horse has been admitted into the
closest personal cOmpaniOnShip with
man in all ages Of the world, because
he is the sWiftest, the strongest, in
many respect he is the most intelligent.
and for all these reasons the most use
full of domestic animals. But swiftneSS
was his primeval characteristic, and
is the quality which is most highly
priced. The SanSkrit word for
the horse means the swift one"
and the possession of this at
tribute of speed rendered him necessary
tn the nOmadic tribes who peOpled his
original home. The animal who could
carry his master into battle and out Of
it-wh0 could traverse long distances
with ease and rapidity-was the one
who gave his owner great advantages
in attack. in retreat and in all Occupa-
tons OF life which the nOmadlc habits
of the primitive man imposed. Like the
Father of his Countrywide horse in those
days was first in war, first in peace
and first in the hearts OF his country
men," and he still occupies this posi-
ton among the modern representative
of these wandering and warlike people.
The cOnquering races of the world
have invariably been races of horse
men. In these piping times OF peace"
the horse is the silent partner Of man in
all his business and emplOymentS. All
classes of society are dependent on him
for their subsistence, their comfort or
their pleasure. and thus all classes are
brought into the most intimate relation
ship with him. The close personal study
of the animal and his capabilities which
this intimacy has neceSsitated has led
to the PERCEPTION of the fact that the
horse has character as distinctly marked
and as individual as that of
his owner. This character is
largely the result of companionship
with man. Character in horses depends
upon two factors. inheritance and edu-
cation. The larger of the two forces in
the individual is that of education, be-
cause inherited character may be mod
flied and improved by education, and it
is because this is so that progress be-
comes possible. If selection and edu-
cation were abandoned, the horse would
rapidly revert 10 his original type,
would deteriorate in size, in intelligence
and in the possession of those qualities
which render him valuable OF inYalu-
able TO man.
And 50 it comes about that human in
telligence must continually be eXerted
TO preserve and improve the type. In
heritance is a valuable basis for prog
ress when individuals are judiciOusl V
selected, and it is only by this progress
i've selection, with proper crossing, that
any degree of fiXity can be stamped on
the race. Character in the horse is in
dictated, as in all the higher animals.
by sphysical characteristics: color and
of character. The general physical
make-up-teXture and fneness of skin
and limbs, symmetry and finish-are
good general guides to character; but
above all other parts Of the body the
head tells the story of the animal. Its
shape, the position and expression of
the eye, ear and muZZle Enthusiastically
denote character to the eye of the prac-
teal observer.
A Roman nose in a horse. like the
corresponding aquiline shape in man,
generally indicates strong individual
fly, often accompanied with great intel
ligence. 4 straight facial line is often
found with high degree of intelli-
gence, but dish-faced horse is rarely
anything but nOnentity in character
or a fool. There are a few exceptions
TO this rule. but they only prove it. A
fine muZZlc usually denotes a high
nervous organization, while a coarse
and large muZzle, with small and non.
expansive nostrils and pendulous lower
lip. means stupidity. A sensitive and
trumpet-shaped nOstril means courage
and intelligence, even when, as it does
sometimes, it also means heaveS. A
broad and full forehead and length
from eye to ear are good general indica
tiOns of intelligence. but the eye ant
the ear are the speaking features of {
horses face.