ii8 HORSEMANSHIP. 



the offender is a dead stop, followed by backing, with, perhaps, 

 a vicious kick or two. Then he raises his forehand a foot 

 or two off the ground, balancing himself on his haunches. 

 Directly he rises, you should lay hold of the mane with the 

 left hand, lean the body well forward towards the neck, and 

 give him all his head, carefully refraining from bearing on 

 the mouth. As he descends, if the display indicates temper, 

 just before his feet touch the ground, rip the spurs well into 

 him, at the same time administering one ! two ! three ! from 

 a severe cutting-whip under the flank. To this smart, quick, 

 and decisive punishment he will probably plunge forward, 

 or may resort to plunging with kicking, so see that before 

 he is quite do\^Ti you are firm in the saddle. If his temper 

 be thoroughly roused he, more likely, will rear straight up 

 on end and walk about on his hind legs, like a performing 

 bear, playing the castanets with his fore feet. This is 

 dangerous work for both man and horse. He must on no 

 account be touched by whip, spur, or bit while up, or, the 

 chances are, he will fall back on the top of you to your 

 injury and that of the saddle ; he may also break, or at 

 least rick, his own back. Punish him as much and as 

 severely as you please as he lowers his forehand, for he 

 cannot rise again till his fore feet again reach the ground ; 

 but sit still, leaning all your weight forward, till the descent 

 commences. When sensible that he is about to topple 

 over backwards or sideways, take your feet out of the 

 stirrups and throw yourself clear of him. A moderately 

 active man, with his senses about him. ought to land on 

 his feet. 



Fortunately, an extreme rearer seldom kicks. Should the 

 brute roll over, if you are on your legs, give him a good 

 trouncing before he can rise. In the case of a slight rear, 

 I have known the slipping of the right hand along the bit 



