98 STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



connects the thigh bone to the pelvis, and which greatly 

 restricts the side action of the limb. If a horse, there- 

 fore, wants to kick a man who is standing a little 

 awa}^ from its side, he will have to tnrn round to do so. 

 For this reason, if a person wishes to stand in safety 

 by the side of a horse's hind-quarters, as for instance 

 when examining its hocks, he should get an assistant 

 to stand on the same side, and to draw the head 

 round to it a little, so that the animal will not be able 

 to turn round to kick, if so inclined. If the horse be a 

 vicious kicker, the advisability of getting the fore leg of 

 the side at which one is standing, held or tied up, will be 

 self-suggestive to any one who has had experience with 

 horses. The forward kick with a hind leg (called a " cow 

 kick ") has a good deal of range ; in fact a horse can, in 

 this manner, hit a man who is standing at its shoulder. 



When striking out in front, the horse will generally 

 do so, only with one foot ; for the blow can be delivered 

 with greater speed when the other fore foot is on the 

 ground, than if both were off it. If he strikes out 

 with both fore feet, he will do so with a quick, short 

 effort ; or he will make a greater or less attempt at 

 rearing, so as to bring his feet or legs on the top of 

 the offending person or animal with the view of knocking 

 it down. The governing idea, more or less developed, 

 of thus overthrowing his enemy is, evident^, to kneel 

 on him and to bite him. This mode of attack is 

 seldom seen in its complete form, except in the case 

 of entires, which are more prone to bite and strike 

 out with both fore feet than are mares and geldings. 

 Mules usually kick out behind with greater freedom than 

 horses, but are not so much inchned .to bite or to strike 

 out in front. Mares, from sexual causes, are more inclined 

 to kick with their hind legs, than are the male mem- 

 bers of their species. 



Horses sometiiries kick with a hind foot in a good- 

 tempered waj'; not for the purpose of inflicting pain. 



