196 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



particular propensity was that of flying at and worry- 

 ing any person who came within his reach ; and, if he 

 had an opportunity he would get his head round, seize 

 his rider by the leg with his teeth, and drag him down 

 from his back. For this reason he was always ridden 

 in what is called a sword, which is nothing more than 

 a strong flat stick, having one end attached to the 

 cheek of the bridle, and the other to the girth of ihe 

 saddle, a contrivance to prevent a horse of this kind 

 from getting at his rider. 



" King Pippin had long been difficult to manage, 

 and dangerous to go near ; but on the occasion in 

 question, he could not be got out to run at all. No- 

 body could put the bridle upon his head. It being 

 Easter Monday, and consequently a great holiday, there 

 was a large concourse of people assembled at the 

 Curragh, consisting principally of the neighbouring 

 peasantry ; and one countryman, more fearless than 

 the rest of the lookers-on, forgetting, or perhaps never 

 dreaming that the better part of courage is discretion, 

 volunteered his services to bridle the horse. No 

 sooner had he committed himself in this operation, 

 than King Pippin seized him somewhere about the 

 shoulders or chest, and, says Mr. Watts, (the gentle- 

 man from whom Mr. Castly obtained his information), 

 ' I know of nothing I can compare it to so much as a 

 dog shaking a rat.' Fortunately for the poor fellow, 

 his body was very thickly covered with clothes, for on 

 such occasions an Irishman of this class is fond of dis- 

 playing his wardrobe, and if he has three coats at all 

 in the world, he is sure to put them all on. 



" This circumstance, in all probability, saved the in- 

 dividual who had so gallantly volunteered the forlorn 

 hope. His person was so deeply enveloped in extra- 

 teguments, that the horse never fairly got hold of his 



