202 KICKING IN STABLE. 



Whilst the latter is a vice to which any horse may be brought 

 by accident or bad treatment, and to which the timid are most 

 prone, the former is not unfrequently displayed by horses that 

 have great confidence in themselves, and have been surrounded 

 by men or boys who have either teazed or been afraid of them. 

 Pointing or poking at a horse, using uncertain hesitating means to 

 make him stand-over in the stable, running from him as soon as 

 he turns his heels towards you, or showing any signs of fear to 

 approach him, or hurting him in the act of cleaning will often 

 induce a horse to kick. Some severity is necessary here, but 

 there must be no pitched battles, or doubtful conflicts, or striking 

 matches, which would be sure to make matters far worse. 



458. — After your horse has done feeding put on a loop 

 bridle (356). Strap up one of his legs (353), and buckle a short 

 strap round the hiud leg, close above the hock, and another 

 close below it. Put another strap, loop, or ring through both of 

 them, in front of the leg, and draw them together. Bring back 

 the Une of the loop bridle through a ring in a surcingle, at the 

 horse's side, and fasten it to this front strap, so that when the 

 horse kicks he will violently jerk his own jaw. Then put down 

 the fore leg and approach your horse in a way most likely to 

 make him kick with that leg. This will soon cure him of the 

 habit, and may be kept on most of the time day after day if 

 necessary, merely taking oflF the loop bridle to feed him, although 

 he can feed fairly well with it on if required. A rope may be 

 brought back to each hind leg if necessary. 



459. — Whilst the loop bridle is on you can attach a small 

 rope to the left side of the loop, round the horse's jaw, and bring 

 it to the left side of the stall near the manger. It may there 

 pass through a pulley, or a piece of wood with a large smooth 

 hole in it for the rope to pass freely, and come back to another 

 pulley on the inside of the left back stall post. When you are 

 going into the stall go in boldly, and taking hold of this rope pull 

 it smartly, and say distinctly at the same moment " stand-over." 

 Repeat this as often as necessary, and the horse will soon learn 

 to turn his hind quarters away from you whenever you approach 

 the stall, or whenever he hears the order to " stand-over." 



