THE HORSE’S SUSCEPTIBILITY TO KINDNESS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 958, 27 August 1880, Page 3

THE HORSE’S SUSCEPTIBILITY TO KINDNESS.

There is no animal that more certainly evinces gratitude for kind treatment than the horse, one of his favourite methods of proving which is hy his tractahility, the following instance of which was brought under our notice recently : A gentleman who for years had possessed a favourite hors", was by unavoidable circumstances compelled to sell it. On the occasion to which we allude tho price paid for this beautiful steed was consi lerable—a price that was more readily given hy the purchaser, as the creature was represented by its owner to be unusually tractable.

Not lone, however, had one friend parted with his favourite animal, when its new master sought him and complained bitterly of a deception that had been prac, tised upon him by the representation that the horse was tractable, when in reality it was a vicious and intractable brute.

Our friend could ill comprehend his horse earning for herself what he regarded as a false character, and expressed a great desire to see the creature, and an arrangement was made for him to do so. When next onr friend looked unon her she was standing outside her stable door, saddled, and in readiness for her master to mount her.

No sooner did she see and hear the voice of her former owner than she neighed several times, pawed the ground restlessly, tdl, finding he was close beside her, she bowed her head down to he patted and stroked, as she had been wont to do when in his poosession. And whilst gently stroking the faithful animal lie enquired—“Of what faults do you specially complain ? ”

“ What faults, 1 will show you,” was the rejoinder; and, suiting the action to the word, the speaker endeavoured to mount the saddle, but the moment the animal became aware of his object she made every possible effort to defeat it, whilst ho, in order to achieve it, dealt her a smart cut with the whip, in answer to which she plunged and kicked furiously, and finding her bridle rein still tightly grasped, she attempted to bite the hand that held her in thraldom. For a few moments her former master looked on in silent amazement, then spoke kindly to the infuriated steed, and went towards her. At the sound of his voice she was quiet, stood quite still whilst he patted her ; and he placed his foot in the stirrup ; still she stirred net, and he then vaulted into the saddle without difficulty, when she, with arched neck, high tread, yet steady pace, trotted away. He rode her up and down the road for

some minutes, now urging her forward, then bringing her to a standstill, and never once did she fail to obey unhesitatingly his behest, till her recent purchaser expressed his wonderment. “It seems to mo,” said our friend, ‘That you have been boating the animal.” “Well, I may have done so,” was the response. “ Then you have an explanation of Ibis creature’s what you term vioiousness, but what I regard simply as acts of rebellion against what the poor a imal feels as cruel treatment. Treat the poor horse kindly, as she has ever boon treated, and she will bo tractable enough ; ill-use her, and she will bo intractable and what you term vicious.”

These words were duly regarded by the listener ; the horce was spared the whip, and the poor brute is now as obedient to her second master as she was to bur first, thus winning her gratitude for kind treatment.—Covent Garden Magazine.