332 FAULTS OF TEMPER. 



animal's tail, is no excuse for bringing into a large field of 

 horses a brute which will resent^being touched behind ; for 

 such accidental contact is often unavoidable when going 

 through gates, or when waiting in a lane or road outside a 

 covert which is being drawn. Making the horse attentive 

 to the aids, by putting him through a strict and long course 

 of instruction, both on foot and when mounted (see Chap- 

 ters V., VI., and IX.), is certainly the most effective means 

 of getting such a kicker under control ; for when he has 

 acquired the habit of not alone obeying the signals given 

 by hand and leg, but also of keeping his attention fixed 

 on looking out for them, as long as the rider is on his back, 

 he will have neither the inclination nor the time to commit 

 assaults on his neighbours, even under a fair amount of 

 provocation. To make doubly sure, the rider of the well 

 broken-in horse which was formerly a kicker in the hunting 

 field, should, in case of doubt, collect him with hands and 

 legs, and should lighten his forehand by raising the animal's 

 head. Here, a touch of the curb and a sharp word of 

 reproof will aid in maintaining discipline. As a rule, 

 immediately before a horse kicks with both hind legs, 

 he transfers a considerable portion of the weight borne by 

 them to his fore legs, and to do this the more easily, he 

 lowers his head. As far as I have seen, horses which 

 kick in the hunting field generally lash out with only one 

 hind leg, and often do so without the slightest provocation 

 or warning either to their rider or to the object of their 

 malice. Also, my experience is that kickers out hunting 

 strike their victims more frequently without being touched, 

 than by being stimulated to do so by contact. If to 

 this indictment we add the fact that when horses which 

 are strangers to each other, get turned out into a field 

 together, they are very apt to kick each other, even though 

 they be usually good-tempered ; we cannot help coming 



