LITTLE WAYS jy 



To balk at a gallop means throwing the 

 body back and bearing against the ground 

 with all four feet, head down. 



Propping. This is balking at a gallop and 

 taking a series of springs in that position, each 

 with a rigid crash on all four legs. The rider 

 has a tendency to continue his journey alone. 

 Propping is much favoured by range horses. 



This completes the list of defensive measures 

 remembered by civilised horses. 



Treading. They have also invented a few 

 methods of expressing their feelings. When a 

 horse presses his hand on m}^ foot, and adds to 

 the tenderness of the greeting b}^ waving his 

 other hand, I know^ he means to impress me, 

 although I may not have leisure at the moment 

 to hear what he has to say. 



Taking in the Slack. When a horse takes 

 the seat of my breeches firmly between his 

 teeth as I try to mount, he may not wish me to 

 ride, or possibly he wishes to criticise the 

 English riding costume. Breeches with puffed 

 sleeves are perhaps an acquired taste. 



Crowding. A horse may corner or crowd 

 me when I try to leave the stall after feeding 

 him, and if he hugged me he could do no more 

 to express his pleasure. But if he will not let me 

 re-enter his stall while he feeds, I suspect some 



