THK IMPROVED ART OF FARRJERY. 193 



but is oftentimes the antipodes to every thing that is 

 useful, and never produces the object in view. The 

 coolest and best-natured rider will always succeed the 

 best. Generally, it is impossible to be too circum- 

 spect in every lesson to which the horse is subject, in 

 chastisement or kindness. The rider should make it 

 a duty to discover every quality of the horse, and with 

 gentleness and coaxing the good can always be che 

 rished, and the bad, by proper restraint and correction 

 can generally be cured. When running away is a fre- 

 quent practice, keep the horse well in hand, and when 

 he feels inclined to halt, use the spur and whip and 

 fatigue him, and he may possibly by degrees abandon 

 the vice. Shying often results from a deficiency in 

 sight. When no such defect is present, the horse 

 should be caressed, and walked slowly up to the object 

 of his terror. An article in the " Veterinarian," 

 written by Mr. Castly, a gentleman whose experience 

 in horse-flesh has been considerable, and practice in 

 the veterinary art extensive, contains the following 

 very just remarks on this subject : — 



" From whatever cause the vicious habits of horses 

 may originate, whether from some mismanagement, or 

 from natural badness of temper, or from what is termed 

 in Yorkshire a mistetch, whenever these animals ac- 

 quire one of them, and it becomes in some degree con- 

 firmed, they very seldom, if ever, altogether forget it. 

 In reference to driving, it is so true that it may be taken 

 as a kind of aphorism, that if a horse kicks once in 

 harness, no matter from what cause, he will be liable 

 to kick ever afterwards. A good coachman may drive 

 him, it is true, and make him go, but he cannot make 

 him forget his vice ; and so it is in riding. You may 

 conquer a restive horse ; you may make him ride quiet 

 for months, nay, almost for years together, but 1 affirm, 



2 c 



