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THE MODERN SYSTEM 



CHAPTER XVII. 



ON THE RESTIVE HORSE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF JUMPER AND 

 SULLIVAN, TWO CELEBRATED HORSE-TAMERS. 



It has been said of naturally vicious Horses, 

 that however they may have been cowed and 

 temporarily subdued by some master-spirits, 

 they are never to be depended upon ; but will 

 return to their dangerous practices on any 

 opportunity which their caprice may dictate. 

 The following statement of facts, quite bear 

 out this opinion, and show the danger of 

 keeping any naturally vicious Horse, under 

 the impresision that they may become quiet 

 and harmless animals. 



Restiveness may be considered the effect of 

 bad temper, and perhaps, worse breaking ; 

 and like all other habits founded on nature 

 and stamped by education, it may be con- 

 sidered inveterate. Whether it may appear 

 in the form of kicking, rearing, plunging, or 

 bolting, or in vvhatever way it may threaten 

 danger to the animal, or its rider, it rarely ad- 

 mits of a cure. It may be true, that a resolute 

 and determined rider may, to a certain de- 

 gree, subjugate the animal ; or the Horse 

 may form his attachments, and with some 

 particular person he may be comparatively or 

 perfectly manageable ; still we believe it to be 

 a rule that admits of very few exceptions, 

 that he neither displays his wisdom, nor con- 



sults his safety, "who attempts to conquer a 

 restive Horse. 



An excellent veterinary surgeon, and a man 

 of great experience in Horses, Mr. Castly, 

 truly says, in Tlie Veterinarian, " From 

 whatever cause the vicious habits of Horses 

 may originate, whether from some mismanage- 

 ment, or from natural badness of temper, or 

 from what is called in Yorkshire a mistelc/i, 

 whenever these animals acquire one of them, 

 and it becomes in some degree confirmed, they 

 very seldom, if ever, altogether forget it. In 

 reference to driving, it is so true, that it may 

 be taken as a kind of aphorism, that if a Horse 

 kicks once in harness, no matter from what 

 cause, he will be liable to kick ever after- 

 wards. A good coachman may drive him. it 

 is true — and may make him go, but he cannot 

 make him forget his vice ; and so it is in 

 riding. You may conquer a restive Horse ; 

 you make him ride quiet for months, nay, 

 almost for years together, but I affirm, that 

 under other circumstances, and at some future 

 opportunity, he will be sure to return to his 

 old tricks again." 



Mr. Castly gives two singular and conclu- 

 sive instances of the trutli of this doctrine. 



