Final answer:
The Brelands' difficulties in training animals were potentially due to environmental constraints, unpredictable management, and the effects of inbreeding, which limit resources, health, and genetic diversity necessary for effective training.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Brelands' difficulties in training animals likely resulted from problems akin to those faced by the keepers of Colonel Lloyd's horses in the excerpt. These difficulties could be attributed to the limits and constraints of the environments and resources that the animals were kept in, such as overgrazing of common pasturelands as noticed by William Forster Lloyd, leading to a lack of sufficient resources and deterioration of the animals' health. Additionally, the situations described illustrate the challenges in management and care when external conditions, such as weather or diseases, affected the livestock. All these factors would greatly complicate the process of training animals and ensuring their well-being.
The severe punishments meted out to the keepers for any perceived shortcomings, whether justified or not, and the resultant fear and unpredictability of their situation, could also have been a factor influencing the animals, given the close relationship between caretakers and livestock. This is further illustrated by cultural maladaptations in historical contexts, where actions guided by cultural practices rather than practicality or science led to harmful consequences.
Moreover, responsible breeding practices, as mentioned in the last excerpt, are important to avoid the genetic pitfalls of inbreeding. Inbreeding can decrease genetic variability and increase the prevalence of heritable diseases, which may have also played a part in the difficulties faced by the Brelands if they were working with closely related animals. Therefore, it's essential for animal training and health to have appropriate management, sufficient resources, and genetically diverse breeding practices.