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for weeks and even months, and not unfrequently 

 causes the animal to rear or plunge, the moment 

 that he is mounted. 



It is by no means easy to detect vice in a horse 

 till after several trials. Vicious horses are usually 

 cunning, and try their rider before they venture to 

 take liberties with him. It has frequently been 

 noticed that where the horse exhibits much of the 

 white of the eye, he is vicious ; and this idea is 

 not altogether without foundation. The white of 

 the ball is exposed when the eye is thrown back 

 to watch the approach of a stranger into the stall : 

 and this jealous vigilance is itself indicative of 

 temper. A hint may not be misplaced as to the 

 course to take if you find yourself, as I have done, 

 thus agreeably closeted with a vicious brute. 

 Most people immediately retreat with precipitation, 

 and thus place themselves at once at the horse's 

 heels, when the chances are three to one in favour 

 of a broken leg. The better course is, if you see 

 symptoms of a disposition to bite or strike, at once 

 to approach the head, and seize the halter rein 

 close to his nose. Few horses will attack or resist 

 a man that evinces determination to control them ; 

 and this is equally true whether you are in the 

 saddle or at the head. If by this means you check 

 the animal into temporary tranquillity, the ostler 



