MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. 65 



to exercise so much patience, but as a rule it is 

 not. 



Breeding hopples have prevented many an 

 accident. It is always safer to use them, no 

 matter how gentle a mare may be, and it only 

 takes a moment of time to adjust them. The 

 illustration gives a good idea of them and their 

 use. Be sure that they are tight enough. Never 

 let the stallion get within range of an ill-tem- 

 pered mare's heels. He can usually take care 

 of himself when approaching her or mounting. 

 If he can get his weight on her back she can not 

 hump herself to kick. Most of the accidents re- 

 sulting in injuries to stallions by vicious mares 

 happen when the horse is dismounting and more 

 or less in an exhausted condition, not looking 

 out for attack. Once a man gets a horse kicked 

 he will think a whole lot of the hopples he 

 might have used. This is one of these common 

 cases in which an ounce of prevention is worth 

 an ocean of regret. In all cases when going 

 to his mare make the horse get to her from the 

 side, not from behind. 



All sorts of stallion bridles are in use. Only 

 comparatively fewhorses need very severe hand- 

 ling. An ordinary bridle made strong enough 

 and fitted with a straight bar bit and a lead rein 

 with a chain at one end is usually strong enough 

 to control the horse. Snap the chain into the 

 off bit-ring and pass the other end through the 

 near ring, thus bringing the chain below the 



