REARING. 



3V1 



was almost impracticable even by his ordinary attendants. 

 His particular propensity was flying at and worrying any per- 

 son who came within his reach ; and he has been known to 

 turn round and tear the leg of his rider with his teeth, and 

 drag him from his back. On one occasion, when he had bid 

 defiance to all, the whisperer was sent for, who was shut up 

 with him the whole night, and in the morning, so completely 

 subdued was this furious animal, that he followed Sullivan 

 round the course like a dog — lying down at his command — ■ 

 permitting his mouth to be opened, and any person's hand 

 to be introduced into it — in short, he was as quiet as a 

 lamb. 



" At the same meeting on the Curragh of Kildare, he won 

 a race, and continued his docility for three years ; but again 

 broke out, and having killed a man in one of his furious 

 fits, he was ordered to be destroyed.'' 



As I have before said, there is little chance of reclaiming 

 a bad-tempered horse by harsh treatment, as I believe it 

 will always be found to have an opposite tendency. An ill- 

 tempered groom should never be allowed to enter a stable, 

 however fit he may be for his business in other respects. 

 For a surly, bullying fellow is sure to frighten horses so 

 much that as soon as he enters the stable they will jump 

 from side to side at his approach. Many a scar has been 

 inflicted by such a man, by using his pitch-fork instead of 

 soothing the animal for a fault ; and if asked how the horse 

 came by the blemish, he invents a falsehood to account 

 for it. 



REARING. 



Rearing is one of the worst vices in a horse, and is 

 practised with the intent to throw the rider ofl". Sometimes 

 it is the result of playfulness, but even then it is a dangerous 



