so HORSEMANSHIP. 



and "shake him up." If a horse kicks, see that the 

 saddle or girths do not pinch him. 



Rearing. — Bend well over the horse's neck, lower the 

 hands, and pull him round to one side or to the other. 

 A bad rider, when doing this, may have to hold on to 

 the mane by one hand. He should grip tightly with 

 the knees, for if the horse rears high, while he is bearing 

 his weight on the stirrups, the leathers may come out of 

 the spring bars, which may cause him to slip down to 

 the ground over the horse's croup. Hitting the horse 

 between the ears is a barbarous practice, which is 

 apt to make the horse '' come down " and break his 

 knees, may injure his poll, and is almost certain to 

 make him " shy " of the whip for the rest of his life. 

 A lady, however, if on a bad rearer, may be well excused 

 for hitting him between the ears, for it is impossible for 

 her to bend over the horse's neck to the extent to which 

 a man can. " Harry Hieover " observes that " to sit him 

 when he does rear, lean quite forward, give him all his 

 head, and just before his feet reach the ground clap both 

 spurs to him and hit him under the flank with a jockey- 

 whip or good tough bit of ash plant. He cannot rise 

 again till his feet reach the ground ; he may plunge 

 forward, but if he does, it matters little. Serve him so 



