440 RIDING DIFFICULT HORSES. 



HABIT-SHY. 



I use this term to designate the trick that some 

 horses, chiefly those which are unaccustomed to the 

 side-saddle, have of sidling away from the skirt. A 

 good plan is to put up a groom in a side-saddle with 

 a rug on, and get him to ride in circles to the left, 

 kicking the rug about with his foot until the horse 

 goes collectedly, which he will generally do in a few 

 lessons. 



JIBBING. 



Jibbing, or "balking" as the Americans term it, is 

 a detestable vice. As a rule, it is the outcome of the 

 knowledge an animal has acquired of his own power. 

 Some horses are foolishly allowed by their riders to jib 

 successfully. For instance, I was once riding with a 

 lady whose animal " planted " himself at a certain spot 

 and refused to " budge." Instead of trying to make 

 him go on, his mistress wearily said that that was her 

 limit, and that she always took him home from it, 

 because he did not want to go any farther ! I sug- 

 gested a change of horses, but she would not hear of 

 it ; for she said I might upset his temper and make 

 him worse than ever. Needless to say, the spoiled 

 brute did precisely as he liked with her, and as she 

 submitted to being " bossed " in this feeble manner, 

 there was nothing to be done but go home every time 

 he "wanted" to do so. If a horse jibs and there is 

 nothing hurting him in the saddle or bridle, he should 



