VICE. 83 



that, as the hoof grows naturally, the shoe is brought 

 forward and thereby exposes the heels. 



VICE. 



In all cases where active vice, such as rearing, kick- 

 ing, jibbing, plunging, has to be combated, the work of 

 correction is half done if the horse is well tired in the 

 first instance, or, in vulgar terms, " the fiery edge taken 

 off him," by half an hour's rapid loungeing, with his 

 neck well bent, chin into chest, on the softest and most 

 tiring ground that is available. For myself, if I find 

 a horse vicious, I never think of combating him if it 

 can be helped, without having first reduced his vigour 

 a little ; and all horsemen who undertake to conquer 

 any seriously bad habits are recommended to consider 

 and adopt this practice, if indeed such is not already 

 their custom. 



KicJcing, to the horseman, is a matter of very trifling 

 consideration. He may either amuse himself by let- 

 ting the ebullition expend itself, or it may be stopped 

 by chucking up the horse's head and increasing the 

 pace. 



Kicking in Harness is a different affair, being gener- 

 ally the prelude to disaster, and must be guarded against. 

 — See page 58. 



Kicldng in the Stable. — Many animals, most gentle 

 in other respects, take inordinate fits of this practice, 

 and generally in the dead of night, as if to make up 

 for their usual quietude on all other occasions ; most 

 frequently they resort to the amusement without any 

 apparent cause of irritation whatever. They will do it 



