3i8 FAULTS OF MOUTH. 



the former. This is a point of breaking which is well worthy 

 of attention, especially as it is opposed to the practice 

 of the large majority of riding men. We must remember 

 that, when a horse makes good an attempt to bolt away 

 from the direction in which we wish to retain him, he 

 does so on account of our inability to turn his hind-quarters 

 to that side. Therefore, with a horse which refuses to 

 the left on coming up to a fence, I hold the whip (as well 

 as the rein) in my right hand, and apply it to his hind- 

 quarter ; instead of, as is the usual custom, applying the 

 whip (whichever hand it may be held in) to the near side 

 of the horse's head, neck, or shoulder. With a horse which 

 refuses to the right, the reversed aids would be required. 

 I have found this method to be as successful in practice as 

 it is sound in theory. After having made the horse obedient 

 to the application of the whip, we should gradually substi- 

 tute that of the drawn-back heel ; so that, finally, we may be 

 able to keep him straight by the rein and leg alone. The 

 practice adopted by some hunting men and hunting ladies 

 of striking their horses down the right shoulder for refusing 

 (almost always to the left) and other faults, appears to be 

 admirably calculated to make them run out to the left on 

 slight provocation. 



To break a horse of " whipping round " (turning sharply 

 round) at some sudden or pretended cause of alarm, we 

 should make him, according to methods already described, 

 obedient to the leg. Thus, suppose the animal on seeing 

 some (to him) terrifying object to, say, his right front tries 

 to " whip round " to the left, we should pull his head to 

 the right, and try to bring his hind-quarters round to the 

 left by the pressure of the drawn-back right leg. 



