198 MODERN FARRIER. 



cause, whenever he frets from either of these causes, 

 his head will not be steady. 



It is a common custom to be alwa)'s pulling at 

 the bridle, as if to set off to advantage c ither the 

 spirit of the horse, or the skill of the rider. Our 

 horses therefore are taught to hold their heads low, 

 and pull so as to bear up the rider from tlie saddle 

 standing in his stirrups, even in the gentlest gallop : 

 how very improper is this we aie experimentally 

 convinced, when we happen to meet with a horse 

 whidi gallops otherwise. We immediately say, he 

 canters excellenth/, and find the ease and pleasure of 

 his motion. When horses are designed for the race, 

 and swiftness is the only thing considered, the me- 

 thod may be a good one. 



It is not to be wondered that dealers are always 

 pulling at their horses, that they have the spur con*- 

 stantly in their sides, and are at the same time con- 

 tinually checking the rein : by this means they 

 make them bound, and champ the bit, while their 

 rage has the appearance of spirit. These people 

 ride with their arms spread, and very low on the 

 shoulders of their horses : this method makes them 

 stretch their necks, and gives a better appearance to 

 their forehands ; it conceals also a thick jaw, which, 

 if the head w^as up, would prevent its yielding to 

 the bit ; it hides likewise the ewe-neck, which 

 would otherwise shew itself. Indeed, if you have a 

 horse unsteady to the bit, formed with a natural 

 heavy head, or one which carries his nose obstinately 

 in the air, you must find his mouth where you can, 

 and make the best of him. 



Many horses are taught to start, by whipping 

 them for starting. How is it possible they can 

 know it is designed as a punishment ? In the 

 riding-house, you teach your horse to rise up before, 

 and to spring and lash out his hinder legs, by whip- 

 ping him when tied between two pillars, with his 

 head a little at liberty. If he understood this to be 



