SPECIAL FORMS OF RESTIVENESS. 251 



at the risk of its running away, which he can meet in 

 the manner described above; and this will even give 

 him an opportunity of getting the head up, by first 

 bending the neck to one side. It is, of course, absurd 

 to sit far back on a bucker, sticking out the legs in 

 front ; a man that does so will be shot off over the 

 horse's ears at the first or second plunge. The seat 

 must be central, and the rider's back as straight as 

 possible, although the natural tendency is to round 

 it ; the rider's weight, too, must be thrown " into his 

 heels," right under his seat ; this is the only chance of 

 " sitting out a bucker." 



Rearing is the most dreaded form of vice that occurs, 

 and therefore the dodge that cunning horses resort to 

 most frequently, as they at once perceive that the 

 rider is afraid of it. Still it is by no means so diffi- 

 cult to conquer effectually as is generally supposed; 

 no doubt a very courageous and cool-tempered rider 

 alone can hope to succeed. 



Rearing would occur much less frequently if it were 

 well understood that it is almost always the last stage 

 of disobedience, and very seldom if ever the first. In 

 fact, its occurrence is evidence of injudicious manage- 

 ment of some kind, either from untrained horses being 

 brought into positions for which they are as yet un- 

 fitted, or from something being demanded of them 

 that was beyond their power ; or from the rider not 

 knowing how to recognise and subdue the very first 

 symptoms of disobedience; or, finally, from his using 

 violent and intemperate methods of doing so. 



"We have already pointed out how bad management 

 of a backing or bucking horse may end in rearing; 

 but bringing a remount, or sometimes even an old horse, 



