SPECIAL FOKMS OF EESTIVENESS. dio 



own weight as far back as possible towards the horse's 

 loins. Energy is an admirable thing, but the energy 

 of stupidit}^ seldom avails much ; and the above plan 

 of proceeding is nearly sure to make matters w^orse, 

 and convert a terrified animal into a vicious one. For 

 whether the anguish the poor horse endeavours to 

 escape from has its seat in the hind quarters or in the 

 head and neck, severe bitting is sure to aggravate it, 

 and a rude hard hand will do the same. The best, in 

 fact the only, remedy for a bolter is, a very carefully 

 fitted and well adjusted bit, a perfectly painless curb, 

 a light hand, and last, but not least, a very firm steady 

 seat, somewhat forward with horses that have weak 

 hind quarters. 



It is always a good plan to put a bolter on the 

 lounge, not, indeed, as is generally done, with the 

 idea of letting it exhaust itself, for weakness is more 

 frequently the exciting cause than strength; but for the 

 puq30se of studying carefully its action, and finding 

 out by degrees in what position or trim it will go 

 steadily and quietly in diff'erent paces. The object 

 will be, of course, with a horse that is w^eak behind, 

 to train it on the forehand, getting its neck just sufii- 

 ciently high up to prevent its being able, when the bit 

 is applied, to bend its head round towards the hand, 

 so as to escape altogether the lever action of that in- 

 strument; but, on the other hand, not so high or 

 so far back as to throw the w^eight on the hind legs. 

 This will also afford a key as to the dimensions of the 

 lower cheek of the bit. 



With a short-necked, narrow-throated, heavy-headed, 

 perhaps straight-shouldered horse, possessing good ser- 

 viceable hind quarters, the first object will be to get 



