254 



RIDING VICIOUS HORSES. 



bore. Whether that be the case or not, I always find 

 that horses do not go as well in it, as in an un- 

 jointed snaffle. 



So-called stiffness of neck and hardness of mouth have 

 nothing to do with the physical condition of these parts, 

 but are merely terms to express the horse's inability to 

 understand or unwillingness to obey the aids. 



When riding a horse which bores to one side, the rider 



Fig. 206. " Showing " a horse the whip. 



by holding one hand lower than the other, and by playing 

 with the rein of the side opposite to which the animal bores, 

 may keep his neck straight. At the same time he should not 

 forget to make the horse, by means of his legs, and if need 

 be by his spurs, carry his hind quarters properly. From time 

 to time a touch of the whip on the hind-quarters, will be 

 still more effective. I have found that the plan of straight- 

 ening a horse by the application of a cutting whip or stick 



