The midland journal., 1907-06-28
TIE FOOL HORSE.
AN uNFAvoRABLE VIEW OF
MANS "BEsT FRIEND"


their mental and moral attributes is
7itally necessary.
Imprimis, the horse. is coward
nature made him so-an unreasoning
coward, who fears everything with
which he is unfamiliar, nothing, how
ever horrible, to which association
has accustomed him; creature given
over to sudden and uncomfortable
pan.cs, and in their paroxysms stop
ping at no injury to self, or to those
who cherish him. His overpowering
instinct in such cases is fight:
frequently, but not always, associated
with a determination to clear him
self from any hanlpering surround
ings. He has no feelings of re-
venge, unless trained to cunning by
the abuse OR the mistakes of man
kind, and, when these prevail he rare
ly wreaks his vengeance upon any
particular individual, but upon human
ity in general, with no regard for
age or sex.
Cowardice manifests itself in equine
connection in many ways-with one
it is terror of the dark, which will
make him kick his stall all night, do
ing himself possibly serious injury,
yet in nine cases out of ten, light
left in the stable will so completely
reassure him that he will not lift a
foot. Another is alarmed at blowing
paper, yet stands yawning while can
non are fired in his face. 1t is this
very attribute Of cowardice which
enables us to handle the animal as
we do; to train him to our will and
for our purpose; which makes him,
once he is thoroughly deceived and
intimidated, the useful servant we find
him; not a willing slave, but one
who fears to tempt reprisals which
have always proved effective. and who
labors for us because he has been
made to do so and fears to rebel.
The horse is an animal of one idea
his brain can concentrate itself up
on but one thing at time. 1t is this
peculiarity which renders it so vital!y
important that in training him We
should have his whole attention
If we do not keep it, our work is
void. Even in the ordinary usage Of
riding and driving the animal who
is not paying attention to us is never
under complete control, and it is for
this reason that SO many accidents
happen to children with their ponies,
and to women who use horses, for
their male relatives or instructors
uever-or rarely-impress upon them
this vitally important detail. Look
where you may, you will find ample
demonstration of the fact that the
one idea always sways the animal.
Why should handful of earth placed
in the mouth, or a twist of the ear,
or a string sawed back and forth
gently round the leg, or any one of
dozens of other expedients start a
balky horse? Why does horse led
from his burning stable rush back
through the flames TO die in his own
stall? Why does the animal work
for US at all? Why does he run head
long upon frightful injury in his
stampedes? The one idea excludes
all others-the novelty OF dirt, ETC.,
puts the obsltinacy out OF his head,
the one idea of the protection always
afforded in the stall dominates any
fear of injury from fire, the one
idea that resistance is hopeless makes
him do his work, the one idea of ter
ror blinds him as thoroughly mental
ly as optically.
You may act as chambermaid, valet
and pedicure to horse for twenty
years, and, If you do not speak to
him he will not know you from a
total stranger. You may fancy that
your cherished Madcap or Mischief
knows your touch, and the special
pet words you employ, but neither of
them will do anything for you they
will not also as willingly do for an
other, provided he has your tone of
vnice and your assertive powers.
Words mean nothing to any horse,
and you may say 60 away" or
Good morning" when you mean
"Come here" with the same effect,
provided you use the tones and ges.
lures you employ IN the latter COM
mand. Bugle calls, as of cavalry, are
some Of them, recognized, but always
those which are associated in the
equine brain with mental excitement
or physical activity. as the charge"
or the post call at the racetrack, etc.
Sense of smell in the horse does
not seem to turn lin against his
human enemies, although K does
against all other foes. You may beat
your horse nearly to death today and
tomorrow, or in twenty minutes he
will be as fearless of you as of any
other biped, just as you may care
for him for twenty years and he will
not know you from a stranger. 1t
is probable that all mankind are so
repugnant to him. and their aroma
SO invariably unpleasant, that he
schools himself to disregard this
sense. The average plains pony is
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