The Fruit of the Spirit is Gentleness

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness...

When a man underfeeds his horse and then demands the horse pull his overloaded wagon, there is nothing wrong with the spirit of the horse. The man lacks the fruit of the spirit of gentleness.

When a man half-starves his horse and refuses to take care of him, there is nothing wrong with the spirit of the horse. The man lacks the fruit of the spirit of gentleness.

When a man hollers, whips & frightens his horse because he isn't strong enough to do a task, there is nothing wrong with the spirit of the horse. The man lacks the fruit of the spirit of gentleness.

The reason the horse isn't spirited is that the cruel man lacks the fruit of the spirit of gentleness.