Years ago I met a veterinary surgeon who had removed the vocal chords of his daughter's pet horse, and replaced them with human vocal chords. His plan had been to teach the sweet creature to communicate with him in English.
The veterinary surgeon had adopted this plan, somewhat late in the day, to rescue an approaching lonely old age. His family had always largely ignored him, and he felt that a talking horse would be unique and captive company.
Horse and veterinary both tried their best. Late into the night the veterinary would hold up his show-cards before the horse's tired eyes waiting for the light of clear intelligence to dawn.
But sadly the years passed by with no progress. The horse would tire earlier than in his coltish years. Confined to his stall he would lie, neck stretched out on his straw all day long. His food often went untouched. And indeed the veterinary, with bent back and unreliable arthritic knees had grown resentful, and begun to avoid the cold walk from the house, leaving the horse alone in his dark cell.
Then one day the miracle happened. The veterinary saw that his old companion had fixed him with a clear and understanding gaze. The horse had 'got it'. The old gentleman smiled into his old friend's eyes and leaned forward to catch the animal's first conversation. With a bright and a confident gaze the horse stretched forth his throat and uttered in a cut-glass English accent - "Neigh".
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