THE PRIMER. 55 



If It be treated with the consideration shown the 

 animal that reared through the rider's fault, it will 

 repeat the misconduct at the first opportunity. If 

 it be struck with the spurs as it comes down to the 

 ground it will probably be induced to add plunging 

 to its accomplishments. Pulling it over upon its 

 back will not deter it from rearing again, and one 

 does not always have the bottle of water ready 

 which we are told should be broken upon the head 

 of a rearing horse. As I have said, this vice can be 

 cured by a course of suppling, but I confess that I 

 know of no other way of correcting it ; and should 

 a horse rear I cannot give the reader any better 

 advice than to loosen the reins as the horse rises, 

 and to take a tension upon the snaffle reins, and 

 close the legs against the flanks, as it comes down, 

 so that the animal shall not feel that it has been 

 wholly successful in avoiding restraint. 



I have known a great many remedies tried with 

 rearing horses, and I have myself tried many, with 

 the result that nothing could be done to correct the 

 fault until the animals were practically re-trained ; 

 that is, discipline must be established in exactly the 

 same manner as with a headstrong colt. Mr. Fritz, 

 of Stuttgart, the most thorough horseman and the 

 best riding-master I ever knew, would never admit 

 a rearing horse into his school, but he believed that 



