150 



cessful — and it is very likely that it will — the rider 

 will suffer a defeat while the horse gains a distinct 



victory. 



Probably the best system of overpowering him is 

 to saw his mouth continually from side to side in 

 rapid succession with the bit, giving an occasional 

 heavy pull at short intervals, and in most cases he 

 will yield to this device and suffer himself to be pulled 

 up. If unsuccessful in stopping him, however, the 

 only course open is to exercise great coolness and 

 steer him round the sharp turns of the road as care-, 

 fully as possible. This is easily managed when the 

 road is comparatively free from sudden bends, but 

 both difficult and dangerous when they are frequent. 

 Whenever he shows indications of stopping, both 

 whip and spurs should be vigorously applied, and 

 the horse kept going on a good deal further than 

 he wishes, and he will not be in such a hurry to 

 bolt again. This counteraction of the rider will 

 cure a bolter sooner than all the powerful bits that 

 have ever been invented. Horses that are natural 

 " pullers " should be ridden with light hands and 

 easy bits, in order to prevent fretting as much as 

 possible, otherwise both riders and horses will ex- 

 perience unnecessary annoyance. 



HOW TO STOP A BOLTER ACROSS COUNTRY. 



If the horse bolt in the open and cannot be pulled 

 up in the manner described, the rider should throw 

 his full weight on either of the reins and bend the 



