AGGRESSIVENESS. 245 



several (say, half-a-dozen) good mouthing lessons, 

 with the long reins, on foot ; and, if the animal be 

 inclined to savage horses, or men, while being 

 ridden, substitute for the ordinary breaking snaffle, 

 the wooden gag (see page 145) during his mouth- 

 ing lessons ; and, also, ride him in it, for a few 

 times. Savaging at polo may be easily cured in this 

 manner. 



An expert breaker can always manage to pull 

 round a horse that rushes at him, while the animal 

 is being driven on foot. Even when the horse 



c> 



backs and kicks, as well as attempts to savage, the 

 driver can easily keep him in control, by pulling 

 him round, alternately, with each rein. One has, 

 naturally, to be quicker when a horse rushes at 

 one than when he backs. I confine the expression, 

 "savaging," to the habit some animals have of 

 worrying the object of their dislike, with or without 

 rushing at it ; and, " biting," to the simple act of 

 snapping with the teeth. Practical horsemen will 

 understand this somewhat arbitrary distinction. I 



