VICE 67 



contention thus becomes in favour of the seller, and 

 the case should be argued accordingly. The worst 

 forms of vice in the horse are biting, kicking, and 

 bolting. Such animals are extremely dangerous, 

 and no one should think of purchasing such a horse. 

 Instead of being a source of pleasure it becomes 

 one of constant danger and annoyance, and would 

 land the owner in damages for injury to his 

 servants, or to other people. When an intending 

 purchaser goes to look at a horse in a stable, a 

 vicious animal will often throw its ears back, and 

 switch its tail, and this may be taken as fairly good 

 evidence that it is not very trustworthy, although 

 some horses will do so without being vicious. 



Setting in harness, that is, refusing to move, 

 is another vice. A kicker in harness is generally 

 a " bolter " also, and the writer believes that 

 animals of this description are absolutely incurable. 

 It is quite possible that a vice may be concealed 

 by the administration of drugs, and large doses of 

 opium and hydrate of chloral are occasionally 

 given for this purpose. Directly their effects pass 

 off the animal's deviUshness returns. 



Sometimes a distinction is made between 

 vicious practices, and bad habits. For instance, 

 some horsemen will term pawing in the stable, 



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