THE-:- HORSE 



A vicious horse will often kick at his rider's 

 stirrups when bucking, because when in the 

 air his legs are not needed to keep balance. 

 A person who stands right up against the 

 horse's hind legs will suffer far less injury 

 from a kick than one who stands a foot or 

 two away. However, neither position is to be 

 recommended when working near a vicious 

 horse. 



Biting. — Untamed horses will nearly al- 

 ways use their teeth as a weapon of defense. 

 Even gentle horses will sometimes bite under 

 provocative circumstances. Cinch tightly an 

 old horse, so disposed, and leave his head 

 loose, and he will probably take a piece out 

 of the would-be rider's left arm. Fore- 

 thought will very easily eliminate the pos- 

 sibility of this. The rider need only take 

 the near cheekpiece, directly above the bit, in 

 his left hand, and, placing his knuckles 

 against the cheek of the horse, cinch with 

 his right hand. If the horse tries to turn his 

 head to bite, a poke with the knuckles will 

 discourage him. Vicious stallions and mares 

 show a great partiality toward biting. If 

 one must work within reach of the teeth of 

 such a horse, the judicious use of a small 

 club, or the butt end of a whip, will help 

 keep the animal's mouth where it belongs. 



I once saw, between the Rattlesnake Moun- 

 tains and Carson Sink, on a desolate alkali 



61 



