DEFENSES OF THE HORSE. 289 



upon an iron fence. The least dangerous run- 

 away steed is the practiced one, which runs be- 

 cause he has vicious propensities; for as he knows 

 what he is about, he generally takes good care 

 of himself, and thus, in a measure, protects his 

 rider, of whose mishaps, however, he is entirely 

 regardless. Some horses, when urged to do 

 something that is beyond their ability, or when 

 goaded by pain from any cause, will run, imag- 

 ining that by so doing they can escape the evil. 

 With these, the " bolt " or runaway is more the 

 last furious effort of despair than real vicious- 

 ness. A heavy-handed rider may cause a horse 

 to run away, the horse, taking advantage of 

 the constant pull upon the reins, is liable to 

 make the hand of his rider a point of support, 

 and then dash wildly onward. 



When, from restlessness, a horse endeavors to 

 break away, the curb-reins should be taken, one 

 in each hand, and every time he attempts to 

 run, a sharp pull should be made upon his mouth 

 by means of these reins ; he will thus be checked 

 and prevented from starting upon a run. Should 

 he once get fairly started, it will be very diffi- 

 cult to stop him promptly. In such a case, care 

 should be taken not to make a " dead pull " 

 upon the reins, but instead, a succession of 

 pulls at short intervals, and these efforts should 



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