348 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



few horses will continue to kick when they are pricked 

 at every attempt. Many cures have been effected by 

 this simple means, although cases have occurred where 

 it was not a remedy. The next remedy is to have 

 recourse to the log. This consists of a heavy piece 

 of wood attached to a chain, and buckled a little way 

 above the hock, so as to reach half way down the 

 leg. As often as the horse kicks, he receives a severe 

 blow from the log ; and he soon learns to desist, 

 finding the pain which it inflicts. However, not un- 

 frequently considerable injury is done to the limbs 

 by the bruises and severe swellings which have 

 followed. 



Kicking is a dangerous vice, especially with horses 

 used in harness ; bad with a chaise, but much more 

 so with a gig behind them. The slightest touch on 

 their quarters, even by the reins touching, will set 

 them to kicking ; and in many instances the bottom 

 of the chaise will be driven in, or a gig may be 

 battered to pieces, and the horse frequently coming 

 off with a broken limb, or the driver may sustain 

 serious injury. With kicking horses, the greatest 

 care should be taken not to allow the reins to pass 

 under the tail, as the moment they feel it, the tail 

 is pressed suddenly and tightly down, so much so, 

 that it is impossible to extricate the reins ; and the 

 more the driver pulls, the more the animal kicks and 

 plunges. When the driver finds that the reins are 

 so entangled, he should on no account attempt to 

 extricate them by pulling, but quietly dismount, and 

 relieve them by lifting the tail gently. 



This vice is seldom eradicated. Where persons 

 cannot afford to part with such horses, as they must 

 be sold at a great loss, a strong kicking strap may 

 be used, which circumscribes the use of the hind 



