VICIOUS TO SHOE — BAD TO BE MOUNTED. 281 



SO as to draw the head up high. He will then be obliged to 

 keep reasonably quiet; he can not do much with his feet when 

 his head is drawn up. 



VICIOUS TO SHOE. 



The young horse, or colt, should have his feet often taken 

 up and handled, so that he may become accustomed to it. 

 But some horses may resist the smith in this operation, from 

 a vicious disposition, and may require great means of restraint. 

 It is proper in this place to condemn that violent treatment 

 which we too often see practiced in this country, of kicking, 

 striking, and cursing a horse for the least uneasiness while this 

 operation is being performed. Good shoers never resort to 

 such treatment, and seldom have occasion to in any way confine 

 the horse. When gentle treatment or, at most, a little clap- 

 boarding fails to render the animal submissive, he must be 

 confined to the necessary degree. It is not difficult to keep 

 the fore-leg up. It is raised and tied to the arm above the 

 knee. A twitch may be necessary while putting on the fore- 

 shoe. The most difiicult part of the operation is putting on 

 the hind-shoes. A rope may be tied around the pastern, and 

 carried across the rump, and then around in front of the breast, 

 and held by an assistant standing on the side to which the 

 limb to be raised belongs. If the horse jerks the foot out of 

 the smith's hands, the assistant draws the rope so he can not 

 get the foot down. The horse will soon get tired of his resist- 

 ance, and permit the work to be done. A very vicious horse 

 will require to be put in the stocks, as it is not right to 

 endanger a man's life with any horse. 



BAD TO BE MOUNTED. 



This may result from unwillingness of the horse to be ridden, 

 or from eagerness to be off. In the former case the vice may 

 be natural, from an ill temper, or the fruit of ill treatment in 



