RESTIVENESS. 51 



whenever he rears. But as you value your life, neither 

 touch him with the whip, spur, or bit, while he is up and 

 rising ; for being made angry, he will rise higher on 

 being touched by either, than he otherwise would have 

 done, and possibly high enough to fall over, or at 

 least sideways." 



The standing martingale (see page 219), either at- 

 tached to the rings of the snaffle or to a noseband (see 

 page 217), may be employed to prevent rearing. 



Restiveness. — The vice of restiveness, or that of 

 obstinately refusing to go on, has received no generally 

 accepted designation, although it is a most unpleasant 

 and not very uncommon trick. I have heard it called 

 "propping," "kegging," etc. In common parlance, a 

 restive horse is one which is fidgety and unsteady ; in 

 fact, one which will not remain standing in the same 

 place, although the very opposite to this is the correct 

 meaning. As passive resistance is more difficult to 

 overcome than active opposition, the exhibition of this 

 vice will try the rider's temper and baffle his powers 

 of persuasion and coercion more than the whole list 

 of equine tricks put together, except, perhaps, the un- 

 pleasant habit some animals contract of prancin^-, 

 dancing about, and refusing to walk quietly when 



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