The royal horse book. 'Centaur'. by Edward W. Gough

Author:Edward W. Gough
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 1885-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

on. Tun Tors Out.

EFFECT OF MUSIC UPON THE HORSE.

" Hwk I 'tis the Tn^Un drum,™

VERYWHERE the horse is recognized as the most useful of the servants of man, and it yields in intelligence to the dog alone

In the early ages of the world, the horse seems to have been devoted to the purposes of war and pleasure; bat its beauty and strength and tractability have now connected it, directly or indirectly, with all the purposes of life. If it diners in different countries in form and size, it is from the influence of climate and cultivation, hut otherwise, from the war horse—aa it is depicted on the friezes of ancient temples—to the stately charger of Holsten, or from the fleet and beautiful Arabian to the diminutive Shetlander, there is an evident similarity of farm and origin.

Of course, in training the horse for military purposes, it is necessary that it should understand the various bugle sounds or calls, and it is astonishing how quickly these are recognized and understood by the horse, who appears never to forget them.

It is related that a milkman once stepped from his cart to supply a customer with milk, and just as he did so the bugle of a cavalry regiment that was being drilled in a public park near, sounded, and away bolted the horse, drawing cart and milk cans behind it. In vain the milkman screamed and yelled, and in vain the pedestrians attempted to stop the runaway, but its martial ardour, having been inflamed by the well-remembered bugle call, it brooked no opposition, and suffered no obstacle to impede its course, till it found itself in the ranks of its old corapanians-in-aims, wtaxe \\& «oa&3&.

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134 Centaur;

appearance, with accoutrements not exactly according to regulation pattern, excited considerable amusement. On inquiry it was found the animal had formerly been a cavalry horse, and hearing the well-known sound to which in former years it had bounded with pride and pleasure, the animal, despite its age, could not resist the enchanting influence of the music.

It is known that horses readily understand a few notes of music, but cases can be cited in which they have been trained to keep time to some very complicated compositions*

Some time ago the Author had occasion to call upon a friend, who takes a great pride in his stud. Just as he arrived, his friend and good lady were about to proceed to the court-yard to inspect a new addition to the stable in the shape of a young colt. It need scarcely be added that the writer gladly accepted an invite to accompany them. The animal—a fine looking creature—was trotted out; but it had never been broken, and had just been shod for the first time that morning; and like "Fear," it "started at the sounds itself had made/' and as the metal rang upon the pavement it became quite nervous. The lady seeing this, stepped forward and commenced patting and stroking his mane, and while she was

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