THE HORSE. 115 



lieving themselves good horsemen. Rearing is taught by 

 violence and by the improper or too violent use of sharp 

 bits. The use of bits of this character often destroys 

 the original courage of the horse, and renders him dan- 

 gerous and good for nothing. Unlike most other vices of 

 the horse, that of rearing is more dangerous to deal with 

 in its earlier stages than when it has become confirmed ; 

 for, in the former case, the horse occasionally over- 

 balances himself and falls upon his rider, while, in the 

 latter, past experience teaches the horse to retain his 

 equilibrium, although in such cases he does sometimes 

 make mistakes. 



No nervous person should attempt to use a rearing 

 horse, as a very little mismanagement of the mouth 

 will produce stumbling and falling that is to say, 

 an inexperienced or careless rider may throw the horse 

 over on his side by pulling a tight rein when he 

 should give a loose one. 



Rearing is not easily cured : it is a VICE. 



Jibbing. 



Horses acquire the habit of jibbing, by being mis- 

 managed on their first essay in harness. They should 

 then be treated with the greatest patience, however 

 much time may be apparently wasted in getting them 

 to start. Jibbing is curable. 



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