Now, that's as true as my name's Butterwick.
"And as for his tail, that they talk so much about! Who'n the thunder wanted a long tail on the horse?
I knew well enough it was short and had only six or seven hairs on it.

But the Romans and Egyptians made their horses bob-tailed, and why?
Maybe you ain't up in ancient history?
Why, those old Romans knew that a horse with a fifteen-inch tail had more meat on him than a horse with a four-inch tail, and consequently required more nourishment.

They knew that more muscular force is expended in brandishing a long tail than a short one, and muscular force is made by food, so they chopped off their horses' tails to make 'em eat less.

They had level heads in those times.

They were up in scientific knowledge.