192 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



simple ; a light hand and the snaffle-bridle, instead 

 of the curb and bit, will be the immediate cure. Some 

 riders employ the following method with such horses 

 as persist in this vice • they occasionally carry an oil- 

 flask filled with water, as soon as the animal mounts 

 into the air, they break this over his head, and the 

 water running into his eyes and ears makes him quickly 

 descend again. After a few repetitions of this mode 

 of proceeding, a cure is sometimes effected, especially 

 where natural vice does not exist. The habit of beat- 

 ing the horse's head with a thick stick in cases of this 

 vice is worse than useless, it renders the animal shy, 

 obstinate, and is apt to bring on that terrible disease 

 of pole-evil. 



Kicking is a vice more frequent with mares than with 

 horses. When kicking in harness is discovered, the 

 animal should not be trusted again ; it is very difficult 

 to cure, and the life or limbs of the riders are always 

 endangered by it. When addicted to kicking in the 

 stable, a cure is effected frequently by fastening a thorn 

 bush or piece of furze in such a position that, if the 

 horse attempts such a thing, he soon discontinues it, 

 in preference to feeling the severity of the prickles. 

 The application of the log to the leg is another method 

 of treating violent kickers. Tickling a horse will gene- 

 rally end in his attaining the vice of kicking. The 

 same may be said of all vices ; they are generally the 

 result of ill-treatment or the folly of those who have 

 the horses under their charge. In draught-horses 

 iihhing or hacking will often result from the position 

 of the collar or some sore on the neck ; in that case a 

 remedy is easily prescribed. Some horses have a na- 

 tural aversion to the collar ; if persuasion and coaxing 

 will not take effect, a little coercion brings all to a 

 reasonable and proper issue : brutahty effects nothing, 



