94 The Horse Faeeiee, 



dressing vicious hoeses. 



Many horses are rendered vicious to clean, by the 

 awkwardness, timidity, and folly of the keeper. An 

 awkward man gives the horse more pain than ought to 

 attend the operation. A timid man allows the horse 

 to master him, and a mischievous fellow is always learn- 

 ing him tricks. 



Biting may be prevented by putting on a muzzle, or 

 by tying the head to the rack^ or to the ring outside 

 of the stable. When reversed in the stall, the head 

 may be secured by the pillar-reins. A muzzle often 

 deters a horse from attempting to bite, but some will 

 strike a man to the ground, though they cannot seize 

 him. These must be tied up. Many harness-horses 

 are perfectly quiet while they are bridled, and it is suf- 

 ficient to let the bridle remain on, or to put it on, till 

 they be dressed. Others, again, are quite safe when 

 blindfolded. Kicking horses are more dangerous than 

 biters. A great many strike out, and are apt to injure 

 an awkward groom ; yet they are not so bad but an 

 expert fellow may manage them, without using any 

 restraint. A switch held always in the hand, in view 

 of the horse, and lightly applied, or threatened when 

 he attempts to strike, will render others comparatively 

 docile. A few permit their hind quarters to be cleaned 

 while their clothes are on. Some there are, however, 

 that cannot be managed so easily. They strike out ; 

 those especially that lead idle lives, so quickly and so 

 maliciously, that the groom is in great danger, and 

 cannot get his work properly performed. There are 

 two remedies — the arm-strap and the twitch.* Where 



* See page 78. 



