A List of Vices. xoi 



KICKING. 



A kicker seldom rears. However excellent in other respects, a kicker is unfit for park or 

 town use. The risk of being dismounted is sufficiently unpleasant, without the further chance 

 of maiming some other horseman or horse. The power of thoroughbred horses in kicking is 

 something amazing ; they will kick in a sharp gallop, and, as grooms say, " high enough to 

 kick your hat off." 



A kicker must be ridden in a severe bit; at the first symptom his head must be pulled 

 high up and bent round until he is compelled to turn. His first effort will be to get his head 

 between his knees. As long as you keep his head up, turning him round and round, he cannot 

 kick. Apply the whip from time to time sharply across his shoulders and ears, and spur on the 

 opposite side to that on which you are turning him. 



When the kicking is merely an ebullition of high spirits, and an open country is before 

 you, get fast hold of his head, stand up in your stirrups jockey-fashion, and send him along 

 until you have taken the raw edge of his pluck out of him. 



Mares are more given to kicking than geldings. If you are not quite sure you can get the 

 best of a kicker or rearer, the better plan is to dismount. Young kickers may sometimes be 

 cured by strapping up a fore-leg, and leading them about on soft ground, and mounting them 

 while thus made helpless ; but aged horses are quite incurable. 



REARING. 



Rearing, as long as a horse is cunning enough not to fall backwards, is a less annoying 

 vice than kicking. If you are aware of the character of the vice, take care to ride on the 

 snaffle reins only ; and catch hold of the mane with one hand, while you pull the horse with 

 one snaffle rein, so as to make him change his leg. Some horsemen drop the reins, and put 

 one arm round the rearer's neck. You may spur but not whip a horse while rearing. 



Most horses can be restrained from rearing by a rearing-bit attached to a standing 

 martingale, which jags his mouth when he attempts to rise ; but a confirmed rearer is only fit 

 for a Hansom cab. 



Fresh horses often plunge without meaning any harm. In such cases keep fast hold of 

 the head ; sit back, and urge into a gallop. If not a confirmed " buck-jumper," he will settle 

 down in a few minutes. If he is a real rogue, get off him, if you can, and let some one else 

 have the benefit of his peculiarity. The only instrument for stopping a fierce plunger is a 

 bit that will not let him get his head down. 



Very often horses over-fed and not properly exercised begin to rear, kick, and plunge 

 in play, manage to dismount their riders, and thus become from a first fault irreclaimably 

 vicious. 



But he is a very poor horseman who cannot take good-temperedly the " lightheartedness " 

 of a fine horse when he first leaves the stable after a long holiday. 



SHYING. 

 When a horse shies and turns half round, it is useless to try to force him back, because 

 he always turns on his strongest side ; but quick as thought turn round in a complete circle, 

 and if he still hesitates to go forward, circle him again and again, because in this motion he 

 cannot resist. 



