HOW TO BUY AND SELL A HORSE, 263 



the horse remains kind, when a strap is placed under the tail. A kicker 

 in harness should never be tolerated. 



6. — Unsteadiness While Being Mounted. — "This may be from eager- 

 ness to start, or from irritability. The first is unpleasant, the latter dan- 

 gerous. When confirmed, it is a vice. The prevention is never to allow 

 a horse to start until the word is given. Firmness and gentleness in 

 training must be observed. 



7. — Rearing. — "This is always unpleasant, and, when confirmed, most 

 dangerous. It is usually caused by a sharp curb in the hands of an 

 unpracticed rider. Drawing the horse up suddenly before starting him, 

 is the usual test. 



8. — Running Away. — "Once the habit is confirmed, there is no cure. 

 And once running away, the horse seldom forgets the vice. A good 

 horseman may manage such a horse under the saddle, with a sharp curb. 

 In harness, the horse is dangerous to the best of drivers. It is difiicult 

 to detect. Laceration of the mouth, bruises and scars, ..rt indications. 



9. — Shying. — "This can only be detected by trial. If occasioned by 

 cowardice, or from weak eyes or near-sightedness, it is dangerous. If 

 irom piavfiilnei*f«, it may be cured by firmness and gentleness. 



10. — Vicious to Shoe. — "This is caused by timidity or brutality in the 

 shoer, with young horses. If confirmed, it will be shown when a shoer, 

 strange to the horse, handles him." 



XVII. Minor Disabilities. 



Among defects, that may, or may not — some of them — be classed 

 as vices, are the following, condensed from Youatt : 



1. — Crib-Biting and Wind- Sucking. — They are analogous to each 

 other. The first is gripping any hard substance, with contraction of the 

 windpipe, the other a violent sucking motion, attended with a peculiar 

 sound. 



2. — Cutting. — The marks will be shown. Proper shoeing will often 

 remedy this. If not, boots or other artificial appliances must be used. 



3. — JSfot Lying Down. — A serious disability to a hard-worked horse. 

 Give such horses a loose box, good, evenly laid bedding, and plenty of 

 room. 



4. — Overreach. — Striking one shoe with the other. A heavy shoe, or 

 toe-weights forward, will sometimes remedy this. If in old horses, it 

 may amount to a serious and dangerous disability. Young horses may 

 outgrow it. 



5. — Pavnng. — A serious defect, or vice, of irritable horses. There is 

 no remedy save confining the fore feet. 



