84 HORSEMANSHIP. 



The spur should be the last and not the first resource of 

 the rider. Unjust, ungenerous, ungrateful punishment has 

 broken many a brave heart, and crushed many a gallant 

 spirit ; it has converted many a noble nature into that of a 

 savage. Though in the army the recruit is allowed spurs 

 before his feet ever feel a stirrup, the propriety of which 

 may be doubted, I would not permit any man to ride with 

 them till he is far advanced in the scientific application of 

 all the aids of hand and leg, and till he has been well 

 instructed in jumping and riding all sorts of horses, with 

 and without stirrups, over a rough country. 



As compared with the whip, the spur, as a punisher or 

 " waker-up," has the advantage of being " the spur of the 

 moment." It comes without warning; the horse cannot 

 watch for it out of the corner of his eye as for the whip ; 

 he, if both are applied together, as they ought to be when 

 a forward movement is demanded, cannot swerve, and 

 though more dreaded it inflicts less pain. The rider should 

 learn that a prick from a sharp rowel— and all rowels kept 

 for use should, like the probe of Josh Billings' "muskeeter," 

 be " fresh ground and polished " — is quite as effective as a 

 violent stab. ^Many sleepy, lazy horses, especially those 

 that are slovenly walkers, are all the better for an occasional 

 superficial prick, just sufticient to awaken attention. In 

 the canter, too, not a few require an occasional touch of 

 the spur to make them go pleasantly up to the bit. To 

 spur a dead-beaten horse, especially one that has done his 

 best, is absolute cruelty. 



Of spurs there are several varieties. When riding in 

 Newmarket or Butcher boots, or in leggings, the common 

 hunting or swan-necked hunting pattern will be found the 

 most convenient. For park work the plain box-spur, 

 with either straight or swan-neck, in Latchford's patent 



