188 ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 



our domestic animals and the surest way to command their 

 affections. 



" Seizing the Cheek of the Bit. — Some horses are so cun- 

 ning as to get the cheek of the bit into their mouth, which gives 

 them a great command over their rider or driver. There is no 

 cure for this; and the only thing that can be done is to fasten a 

 piece of round leather, or use some other mechanical contrivance, 

 so that the animal cannot possibly get the cheek of the bit into 

 his mouth. Neither soothing nor beating will remedy this trick, 

 as the horse who has once been guilty of it is sure to seize the 

 first opportunity to repeat it when anything vexes him. Many 

 very serious accidents have happened to persons from horses 

 running away with the cheek-bit between their teeth. 



" Running Away. — The only thing that can be done in 

 this case is to use a strong curb with a sharp bit, and at the 

 same time always keeping a firm bridle-hand. 



" Shying. — Of all the vices incidental to the horse, shying 

 is one of the worst, and more accidents have happened from it 

 than any other of the vices or defects of the horse. Shying pro- 

 ceeds from various causes, but one of the principal is defective 

 vision; timidity stands next; and it often proceeds from a dis- 

 position to be playful. This vice is far less common among 

 high-bred horses than with those which are half-bred, although 

 we have met with it in some of our first racers. 



"When we have a horse given to shying, our first attention 

 should be directed to the cause — that is, whether it proceeds 

 from friskiness, timidity, or defective vision. 



"When shying proceeds from playfulness, it is difficult to 

 judge what mode of cure is best to be adopted, because if cor- 

 rected for it, he will associate with any object that diverts his 

 attention the infliction of punishment, which will tempt him to 

 run away under the dread of a flogging; and if caressed for the 

 fault, it is liable to induce him to repeat it. But, of two evils, 

 gentle correction must be adopted, and rather to pass by the 



