514 VICES OF THE HORSE. 



want of work, it is at other times the consequence of a defect of sight. 

 It has been remarked, and we believe very truly, that shying is oftener a 

 vice of half or quarter-bred horses than of those who have in them more 

 of the genuine racing blood. 



In the treatment of shying, it is of great importance to distinguish be- 

 tween that which is the consequence of defective sight, and what results 

 from fear, or newness of objects, or mere affectation or skittishness. For 

 the first, the nature of which we have explained at page 166, every allow- 

 ance must be made, and care must be taken that the fear of correction is 

 not associated with the imagined existence of some terrifying object. The 

 severe use of the whip and the spur cannot do good here, and are likely 

 to aggravate the vice tenfold. A word half encouraging and half scolding, 

 with a gentle pressure of the heel, or a sHght touch of the spur, -will tell 

 the horse that there was notliing to fear, and will give him confidence in 

 his rider on a future occasion. It should be remembered, however, that 

 although a horse that shies from defective sight may be taught consider- 

 able reliance on his rider, he can never have the cause of the habit 

 removed. We may artificially strengthen the human sight, but that of 

 the horse must be left to itself. 



The shying fi'om skittisliness or afiectation is quite a different affaii', 

 and must be conquered ; but how ? Severity is altogether out of place. 

 If he is forced into contact with the object by dint of correction, the dread 

 of punishment will afterwards be associated with that object, and, on the 

 next occasion, his startings will be more frequent and more dangerous. 

 The way to cure him is to go on, turning as little as possible out of the 

 road, giving a harsh word or two, and a gentle touch with the spur, and 

 then taking no more notice of the matter. After a few times, whatever 

 may have been the object which he chose to select as the pretended cause 

 of affright, he will pass it almost vdthout notice. 



In page 114, under the head 'breaking in,' we described how the colt 

 may be cured of the habit of shying from fear or newness of objects ; and, 

 if he then is accustomed as much as possible to the objects among which 

 his services will be required, he will not possess this annoying vice when 

 he grows to maturer age. 



Mr. John Lawrence, in his last work on the Horse, says : ' These animals 

 generally fix on some particular shying butt : for example, I recollect 

 having, at different periods, three hacks, all very powerful ; the one made 

 choice of a windmill for the object or butt, the other a tilted waggon, and 

 the last a pig led in a string. It so happened, however, that I rode the 

 two former when amiss from a violent cold, and they then paid no more 

 attention to either -n-indmills or tilted waggons than to any other objects, 

 convincing me that their shying when in health and spirits was pure 

 affectation ; an affectation, however, which may be speedily united with 

 obstinacy and vice. Let it be treated with marked displeasure, mingled 

 with gentle, but decided firmness, and the habit vdll be of short en- 

 durance.' 



' We will suppose a case,' writes an anonymous correspondent in the 

 first volume of the ' Veterinarian,' ' a very common one, an every-day one. 

 A man is riding a young horse upon the high road in the country, and 

 meets a stage coach. What with the noise, the bustle, the imposing ap- 

 pearance altogether, and the slashing of the coachman's whip, the animal 

 at its approach erects his head and crest, pricks his ears, looks affrighted, 

 and no sooner comes alongside of the machine than he suddenly starts 

 out of the road. His rider, annoyed by this, instantly commences a round 

 of castigation with whip, spur, and curb, in which he persists until the 

 horse, as well as himself, has lost his temper ; and then one whips, spurs, 



