304 FAULTS OF MOUTH. 



he will be obliged to hold his head at a proper height. 

 To aid him in this, we should keep our hands higher than 

 usual. Practice at the rein-back (see page 215) and at 

 the turn on the haunches (see page 272), will probably 

 be of use. When the animal bores on one rein more than 

 the other, we may adopt the same procedure, except that 

 we should devote our attention chiefly to getting hrm to 

 turn to the side on which his mouth is " hard," until he 

 will do so as easily to it as to the other. 



PULLING AND RUNNING AWAY. 



I can draw no line of distinction between these two vices, 

 except one of degree ; for animals which would be un- 

 controllable runaways with some men, would be only hard, 

 or even moderate, pullers with other men. Besides, cir- 

 cumstances alter cases : for instance, I have ridden horses 

 which it would be impossible for me to pull up in a race, 

 chase, or sharp burst with the hounds ; but which I could 

 easily control when hacking, even in company, or on 

 parade. I shall, therefore, for convenience sake, consider 

 running away as an extreme form of pulling. Before 

 beginning a discussion on this subject, I must candidly 

 state my disbelief in any system of pure breaking by 

 which a violent, masterful puller can be made permanently 

 quiet for an indifferent rider to keep in control at fast 

 paces under exciting circumstances. It is worthy of 

 note that a fine horseman not alone holds an unruly animal 

 in check ; but also teaches him habits of discipline by the 

 application of the " aids." 



A large number of hunters and other saddle horses 

 unjustly acquire the reputation of being pullers ; because, 

 when under excitement, they like to start off in a gallop ; 

 but if they were " given their head " for, say, two or three 



