VICE. 85 



the stable tlirougli the night may therefore effect a cure 

 where all else has failed ; but as light interferes with 

 sleep, it should be the very last resource. 



Rearing is of little consequence in harness, and sel- 

 dom attempted to any extent ; but to the rider it is, in 

 my opinion, the most dangerous of all bad habits to 

 which a brute may be addicted. As I consider it 

 almost impossible for a horseman to cure a practised 

 rearer, my advice to the owner of such a beast would 

 be, instead of risking his life in the endeavour, to get 

 rid of him to some buyer, who will place him where, 

 in the penal servitude of harness, he may perhaps eke 

 out a useful existence. However, should accident j)lace 

 you on a rearer, directly he 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 water, 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 



