THE KICKING HORSE 85 



had to deal with in their time ; for example, I will 

 quote one case, but all are much the same. 



The horse was a kicker, and it took three men to 

 harness him and two to drive him. Two kicking-straps 

 were used. Yet the horseman goes on to relate how 

 on certain occasions the horse would go quietly and 

 never kick, and then at a certain time he would set to 

 kicking. These horses, according to their owners, are 

 " garratty," or " scatty," which are slang terms for 

 megrims, or staggers. But I am not of the same 

 opinion. 



Now I will endeavour to explain my theory. Kicking 

 is a bad habit ; horses, like men, are addicted to bad 

 habits. The man of a certain character will remain sober 

 for months, then suddenly break out and drink heavily 

 for a week or two ; then he will give it up and remain 

 sober again for a long period. The individual has not 

 been broken of his habit ; what's more, he does not 

 wish to be broken. Now, in the case of this peculiar type 

 of kicking horse, he has not been properly cured or broken, 

 and he gets tired of the habit for a period ; then a slight 

 reminder causes him suddenly to resume kicking. A 

 thorough course of scientific breaking would break the 

 habit, for if he is content to go quietly for a certain 

 period he can be persuaded to give it up altogether. 



