198 HOUSE POETEAITUKE. 



We unhitched her from the wagon ; and from the sullen 

 way she laid, it was apparent she expected a beating, and 

 was going to endure it like a stoic. She never offered to 

 rise while we were divesting her of the harness, and I made 

 up my mind what to do before the last strap was unbuck- 

 led. Old Quaker, her companion, looked on surprised. 

 We had broken many a colt by his side, yet this was some- 

 thing new to him, as his looks plainly showed. We 

 strapped both the mare's fore legs up, fastening the pas- 

 tern to the arm, brought both hind legs up against her 

 belly, securing them there so they could not be moved in 

 the least, put a strong bridle on, the bit having long check 

 pieces, drawing her head up and on one side, where that 

 was also fastened. A bundle of straw was put under her 

 head so that it would be supported without pulling on the 

 rein. When all was completed she could not move an 

 inch, though she never made the attempt. We put an- 

 other horse in by the side of Quaker, leaving strict orders 

 for no one to go near her, and went on our way to the 

 quarter race. Four hours elapsed before we returned. 

 The straps were removed, and she was bid to arise. She 

 did not need a second invitation, looking very foolish 

 when she regained her legs. This was the most cruel 

 operation I ever subjected a horse to ; but in her case it 

 was effectual. I kept her some time, and she never 

 showed any desire to repeat the trick. She afterwards 

 went to New Orleans trotting in forty, acquiring a good 

 deal of celebrity as a safe and reliable road mare. 



PKECEPTOE. That was rather severe, yet not so bad as 

 beating her as severely as some would have done. I 

 should have misunderstood her case, too, and would have 

 been bothered to know how to cure a trick of that de- 

 scription. Horses frequently throw themselves; this mare, 

 as I understand the case, was not so violent, and the stoli- 

 dity she displayed showed a stubbornness that would have 



