VICES 61 



humane ways I could think of, and at last obtained 

 the patent ' Rensum ' bridle, and my troubles were 

 over. We had many a good fight before he found 

 it was absolutely useless ; and after twelve months' 

 use of the Rensum I never used other than a double- 

 rein snaffle bridle. 



Too much cannot be said in favour of the Ren- 

 sum. The great secret is to keep a horse's nose 

 down. Once let him get his head up and all control 

 over him is gone. Never make the fatal mistake of 

 raising your hands and holding on in the vain hope 

 of keeping your seat, for it is very probable you will 

 just give the required pull to overbalance your horse ; 

 rather throw yourself forward, and, if possible, get 

 your hand firmly on his neck, as near the head as 

 you can get, and force him downwards. The first 

 time the cob I have mentioned reared he broke the 

 brim of my hat completely off — he went up so 

 suddenly and unexpectedly. 



In harness work a sharp and unmerited jerk on a 

 curb bit will sometimes make a horse rear, especially 

 if he is so checked by an impatient driver, who goes 

 as hard as he can while there is yet room in close 

 traffic, and when obliged to stop, does so with a 

 vicious jerk. I have seen that done and heard the 

 shafts crack and break, and I must own to having felt 

 a certain satisfaction that the horse has taught his 

 ignorant driver a very sharp lesson. You may be 

 sure the ever-ready ' clever man ' in the inevitable 

 crowd which quickly forms on such an occasion 

 soon airs his opinion. ' Sarve ye right, guvn'r ; why 

 didn't ye stop afore? Yer hoss on'y tried to jump 

 the kebs and sich-like, on'y he couldn't git 'igh enuf.' 



