RESTIVENESS, AND RESISTING BEING MOUNTED 353 



If a horse is aged and prone to shying, and will 

 not be broken off it by gentle treatment, then severe 

 measures must be resorted to. Many years ago, I 

 rode a remarkably spirited and active hackney, which 

 was much given to shying, and particularly in the 

 evening or at night, although he had no defect in his 

 sight. About a mile from my residence there was 

 a salt-work. The first time I had occasion to pass 

 this at night, the flames were issuing from the top 

 of the furnace. My horse came to a stand when 

 within about fifty yards from it, and neither coaxing 

 nor force would induce him to proceed. I turned his 

 head homewards, and applied both whip and spur 

 smartly, and galloped him at full speed to my gate ; 

 I then drew up, and turning round, returned at a 

 sharp trot, and on coming up to the salt-work, he 

 passed it without manifesting any signs of fear, and 

 never afterwards showed the slightest reluctance to 

 proceed when he came to it. 



Some horses have a trick of shying on coming 

 out of the stable. This is acquired by having received 

 some injury while entering the door, or striking his 

 head against the top of the doorway if too low. This 

 is incurable, so far as I know ; for both kind treat- 

 ment and severity have been tried without success. 



RESTIVENESS, AND RESISTING BEING 

 MOUNTED. 



Some horses which possess a lively or impatient 

 temper, manifest a desire to start off before the rider 

 can get seated in the saddle. Indeed some will 

 attempt to set off whenever the foot is put in the 

 stirrup. This is a troublesome and dangerous fault, 

 even with the most expert horseman, and especially 

 so to those who are inexperienced or infirm. Horses 



