3G8 MA^'UAL OF MODERiV i'ARRlERY. 



patient treatment alone that we can hope to succeed in 

 rendering this valuable animal truly useful and docile. I 

 have no doubt but in nine cases out of ten, where horses 

 exhibit furious or stubborn tempers, that these have been pro- 

 duced from the cruelty and ignorance of their first trainers, 



RESTIFFNESS. 



The most unpleasant and dangerous of all vices possesseu 

 by the horse is that of restifPness. Sometimes this proceeds 

 from a naturally bad temper, and at others from faultiness 

 in education. This term includes plunging, rearing, kick- 

 ing, bolting, and general impatience while mounting. A 

 horse with any of the above faults can never be depended 

 upon, for, although we may use means to counteract a 

 particular vice, whether by compulsion or gentle measures, 

 he may exhibit that vice vAhen we are oif our guard and are 

 the least expecting it. Force may bring him to obedience, 

 and he may succumb to him who has had the determination 

 to subjugate him ; but when mounted by another he is 

 extremely likely to break out again. A horse that kicks in 

 harness may be driven with safety by a cautious and expe- 

 rienced driver or coachman, but still there is no certainty of 

 his not exhibiting the same trick years afterwards ; indeed 

 most h )rses which have been kickers return to it again. 



However high the temper which the horse may exhibit, 

 we would recommend that he should be broken from his 

 vices by kind and soothing means, and these exercised with 

 patience for a considerable length of time ; and force should 

 only be resorted to when all other means have failed. 



There have been several striking instances of persons who 

 possessed the power of taming vicious horses by gentle 

 measures ; the most remarkable is recorded in the Eev. Mr. 

 " Townsend's Statistical Survey of the County of Cork," who 



