CHAPTER XVIII
MOTOR-CARS AND HORSES
By hercules Langrishe,
Master of the Kilkenny Fox Hounds
One of the chief reasons for the opposition shown to the introduction of motor traffic in this country has been that motor-cars have frightened horses. When bicycles first came in precisely the same thing happened. Everyone, including the writer, who rode the old high bicycle, can well remember the day when it was necessary continually to dismount on account of restive horses, and when cyclists were subject to much abuse from nervous drivers; but to-day it is an exceedingly unusual thing for a horse, or even the rawest unbroken colt, to pay the very slightest attention to a bicycle.
Automobilists find that provided they conduct themselves properly they do not receive discourtesy from the drivers of horses who are thoroughly the masters of their animals. It is the nervous driver, the man who is frightened of his horse and has neither the knowledge nor the courage necessary for its control, who gives vent to his irritation by abusing motorists.
As one who has driven horses in every sort of harness, and has also journeyed many thousands of miles in automobiles, my opinion is that drivers of horses have very often good reason to complain of want of consideration and discourtesy on the part of motor-drivers, and automobilists who drive recklessly and without proper consideration for other users of the road well deserve the wholesome abuse which is frequently given them.
