REARING. 271 



very bad rearers by slipping off over their tails, a plan by 

 no means to be despised. 



If we have a few minutes to spare, we can generally 

 bring the animal under control, by getting off; taking the 

 near reins close to th6 bit in the left hand, and making the 

 horse circle round by touching him smartly on the hocks 

 and gaskins with a whip or cane. When he answers this 

 indication on the right side in a lively manner, we should 

 teach him to do so, on the other side. If we then mount 

 him and hold the rein and whip or stick as in Fig. 28, or 

 in the left hand, and give him another turning lesson, we 

 shall generally find that the practical application of this 

 instruction will act as an effective defence against the horse's 

 trick of getting up on his hind legs. The turning lesson 

 is simply a rough and ready way of teaching the turn on the 

 forehand (p. 247). 



Hitting a rearer between the ears with a stick or bottle 

 full of water, as is sometimes recommended, is a barbarous 

 practice which is apt to make him break his knees, may 

 injure his poll, is certain to make him " shy" of being touched 

 about the head, and will have no curative effect. 



The standing martingale attached to the rings of the 

 snaffle (pp. 93 to 97) acts as a valuable preventive against 

 rearing, by bringing the head down and thus putting weight 

 on the fore-hand, and by punishing the mouth when the horse 

 tries to get up. I would not, however, advise that a rearer 

 should be ridden for the first time in this martingale; because, 

 on feeling the unaccustomed restraint when attempting to 

 rear, he might throw himself backwards, as I have known 

 horses do. Lunging and turning the horse sharply 

 several times with the long reins for about a quarter of 

 an hour, will generally be sufficient to give him all the 

 preliminary instruction he will require with the standing 

 martingale. 



