60 THE CARE OF HORSES 



CHAPTER VII 



VICES 



This is a sad subject to write upon. What is the 

 cause of half the so-called vice in horses ? Is it 

 the innate wickedness of the animal ? I think not. 

 Is it an inherited weakness ? Perhaps in some cases 

 it is. But of the real and main cause there is no 

 doubt : it is the breaker's gross stupidity and brutal 

 usage. Temperament varies vastly in horses, and 

 they must be handled accordingly. First of all 

 learn your horse, then begin to instruct and handle 

 him. The ignorant mode of ' breaking ' horses has 

 produced various vices ; the worst of all, I think, is 



Rearing. 



I have seen nice-mouthed horses handled both in 

 harness and in the saddle with the ' grip of iron,' 

 when, after vainly trying to ease their tortured 

 mouths, they have tried ' sitting up.' It is a most 

 dangerous vice, and many a rider has been killed in 

 this way, when the horse in terror or maddened rage 

 has fallen completely over backwards. 



I once owned a beautiful little Irish cob, and rode 

 him many times before he showed any signs of vice. 

 But good feeding and regular work soon put him in 

 prime condition, and he felt fit to try on old games. 

 I was trotting quietly along, snaffle bridle on and 

 slack rein, when, without a moment's notice, up he 

 went, straight as a lamp-post, and he was so bad at 

 it that he even reared at a gallop. I have never 

 heard of any other such case. He always reared 

 three times in quick succession, and then would go 

 on again at the pace thus interrupted. I tried all 



