144 BREAKING AND TRAINING 



be drawn well down on the quarters, and again over 

 the whole harness (all of this before fixing the animal 

 in the shafts). The Hippo-Lasso may also be used, 

 (see Breaking Tackle). 



The horse should now be walked in a circle to the 

 left and after this the order must be reversed and the 

 animal made to circle at the walk to the right. 

 When the kicker seems to have learnt his lesson 

 well so far, repeat these circling movements at the 

 trot. 



I have said above that running awa}^ is too often 

 an accompanying characteristic in kicking horses. 

 When kicking in harness is associated with " bolting " 

 it is necessary to use some powerful restraint in the 

 region of the mouth, and for this purpose it is desirable 

 to put on a " halter- tw^itch," the rope of which should 

 be held by an assistant (see Breaking Tackle). 



With the appliances I have described, keep practising 

 and working your horse with daily regularity. At 

 the end of three months' schooling in this manner, 

 however, if the animal has not given up his vice, it 

 is reasonable to conclude that his vicious habits are 

 incurable. Consequently he must be regarded as 

 unsafe for use in harness, and may be cast off as a 



