5»H AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



do more good than punishment. See to it that all teasing 

 and vexing of your colt be promptly and entirely broken up. 



REARING. 



This habit is often induced by bad treatment, such as jerk- 

 ing the mouth with the bridle, etc. Whatever may be the 

 cause of it, it is a very troublesome and dangerous fault. 

 By it riders are most frequently thrown, with what sad re- 

 sults is well known. If a horse rears in the harness, he is 

 almost sure to fall, and get himself entangled in the gear, 

 breaking it, oftentimes, and injuring -himself. If beside 

 another horse, this, if not hurt, is generally made scary by 

 example. Some horses will not back without rearing. Per- 

 sons purchasing horses should be sure to try them at backing. 



The remedy recommended for kicking will also apply to 

 rearing. 



SCARING. 



Scaring is a common defect among horses. Some of them 

 will take fright at almost any thing, and sometimes appar- 

 ently at nothing. In many cases it is occasioned by a defect 

 of vision. Some horses are near-sighted, and, in consequence, 

 do not see objects until the}^ are alarmingly near. But, like 

 the other vices we have been considering, scaring is gener- 

 ally a habit brought on by bad training. Inconsiderate boys 

 and irresponsible hostlers often have a habit of frightening 

 colts whenever they come near them. A habit of scaring 

 contracted in colthood generally remains through life. There 

 is no radical remedy for it. Gentle and kind treatment may 

 effect much, and nothing else will. 



Since the miserable old blind-bridles have gone out of use, 

 there are not so many scary horses as there used to be. 



A horse generally gives evidence of fright either by jump- 

 ing forward or sidewise, or by shying. Jumping is the most 

 dangerous, as it is usually the signal for running. 'Nor is. the 

 horse likely to delay long. He is off in an instant — either 

 to one side, upsetting or endangering the vehicle he draVs, 



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