THE NEW POCKET FARRIER. 47 



beat a generous creature, before you have signified your 

 mind to him, (by some token which he may be taught 

 to understand) who would obey you if he knew your 

 pleasure; it is time enough to correct him when he re- 

 fuses, or resists you. Do not haul his head about with 

 too tight a rein, it deadens his mouth ; besides, he will 

 carry you. safer, and take better care of his steps with 

 an easy hand, than a heavy one ; much depends on the 

 quietness of the bridle hand. Keep in your elbows 

 steady, and you cannot hurt his mouth. Again, nothing 

 discovers a bad horseman (even at a distance) so much 

 as throwing his legs and arms about ; for it is easier to 

 the horse and rider, and he can carry you further by ten 

 miles a day, when you sit as steady upon him as if you 

 were a part of himself. 



CUTTING. 



If he cuts either before or behind, look that his shoes 

 stand not with an edge beyond the hoof, and feel that the 

 clinches of the nails lie close ; but if cutting proceeds 

 from interfering, that is, crossing his legs in his trot, it 

 is a natural infirmity and can only be a little helped by 

 care. Horses will sometimes cut, when leg-weary, 

 which they will recover of by rest. If you would not 

 have a horse that cuts, buy not one who stands with his 

 toes turned outwards, nor one who, in trotting, carries 

 his legs too near each other. 



LAMENESS.— A POULTICE. 



If (as he stands in the stable) you observe him to 

 point one foot forwarder than the other, either before oi 

 behind, seeming to bear no weight on it, you may rea- 

 sonably conclude he is not easy : if the shoes is the 



