VICE. 87 



out a useful existence. However, should accident place 

 you on a rearer, directly lie rises lay hold of the mane 

 with one hand ; this, while at once throwing your 

 weight forward where it should be, will enable you also 

 to completely slacken the reins, which is important. 



No one need be ashamed to adopt this plan. I have 

 seen the best riders do so. 



Vicious rearing may, on its first manifestation, be 

 sometimes checked by a determined and reckless rider 

 giving a well-directed blow on the ear with some bother- 

 ing missile ; but this is a venturesome proceeding, and 

 only in emergency should it be resorted to, as an ill- 

 directed blow is very likely to produce poll- evil, or 

 knock the sight out of an eye. 



It is said that a bottle full of w r ater, broken on the 

 ear of a rearing horse, proves an effectual cure ; but 

 happily the danger to the rider during such treatment 

 of his bearer, is a strong guarantee against the frequent 

 adoption of this barbarous practice. In many cases 

 lowering one hand with the rein on that side when the 

 horse is just beginning to rise, will have the effect of 

 breaking the rear, the horse being urged forward with 

 the spur the instant his fore legs are down ; but if, 

 when he has gained anything like the perpendicular, 

 the rein or head be chucked, or by any misfortune in- 

 terfered with, the chances are that the brute will walk 

 about on his hind legs like a dancing dog, and most 

 likely finish by falling back on his rider. 



A martingal is sometimes found to be a preventive, 

 especially a running one. 



Jibbing. — The disposition to this vice is generally 

 called into action, in the first instance, by the fret con- 

 sequent on the abrasion of the neck by the collar, or by 



