334 FAULTS OF TEMPER. 



rein to the crupper, say, four or five inches from the dock, 

 pass it through a pulley or ring on the shaft, at about 

 right angles with the point of attachment to the crupper ; 

 carry it forward, and fix it to the ring of the snaffle, at such 

 a length that if the horse tries to kick he will give his 

 lower jaw a violent blow. While acting as a kicking strap, 

 it will be the means of making the horse associate in his 

 mind the idea of pain with kicking in harness. We might 

 connect it to a gag bearing rein, which, besides punishing 

 the corners of the animal's mouth, would pull his head up, 

 and thus tend to check the elevation of his hind-quarters 

 every time he attempted to kick. 



The old expedient of tying a kicker's tail to the splinter 

 bar is often successful in breaking the animal of his vice. 

 In other cases, it serves only to aggravate the objectionable 

 habit. For this object, the tail may be secured by a double 

 sheet bend (see Fig. 65). 



I believe it is impossible, even with the most careful 

 instruction, to render safe in harness some bad-tempered, 

 treacherous horses which have had a successful trial or two 

 at kicking a trap when between the shafts. The memory 

 of such an experience appears to be particularly lasting in 

 the equine mind. 



For striking out in front, we may tie up one fore leg 

 (see page 112), put the strait-jacket on (see page 129), 

 apply the rope-twitch (see page 120), or tie the horse's 

 head to his tail (see page 155), and gentle both fore legs. 

 The use of the rope-twitch is generally the quickest method. 



The vice of kicking in the stable at persons or horses 

 may be cured or kept in check by a few sharp lessons in 

 making a horse come up to us with the whip (see page 343) ; 

 for by such instruction we can teach the an ; mal to turn his 

 quarters away from us, the moment we raise our hand in 

 a threatening manner. We may also teach, him to obey 



