Kicking. 113 



from a confirmed kicker, and a timid man is never safe. 

 Before the habit is established, a thorn-bush fastened 

 against the partition or post will sometimes effect a cure. 



A chain about 20 mches long, strapped in the centre to 

 the horse's foot, is the most effectual remedy known to us. 



A much more serious vice is kicking in harness. From 

 the least annoyance about the rump or quarters, some 

 horses will kick at a most violent rate, and destroy the 

 bottom of the chaise, and endanger the limbs of the driv- 

 er. Those that are fidgety in the stable are most ajDt to 

 do this. If the reins should j^erchance get under the 

 tail, the violence of the kicker will often be most out- 

 rageous ; and while the animal presses down his tail so 

 tightly that it is almost impossible to extricate the reins, 

 he continues to plunge until he has demolished every- 

 thing behind. 



We know of no treatment better than to put on a head- 

 stall or bridle, with twisted W, or twisted straight bitts 

 in the mouth of the horse to be cured ; then put on a 

 common back-saddle, with thill lugs, or any strap or girth 

 with loops on either side of the horse, is equally good ; 

 then buckle a pair of long reins, open in the middle, into 

 the bitts, and pass them through the thill lugs or loops ; 

 one to each hind leg, above the fetlock joint ; there make 

 each rem fast to the leg, allowing sufficient length of rein 

 for your horse to walk or trot, as the operator may think 

 proper. Everything complete* you will have the animal 

 commence the operation of kicking ; the first will be a 

 smart kick, and the second lighter, and so on till your 

 horse cannot be made to kick any more. 



Or the following : Take a forked stick, about two feet 

 long, varying a little according to the size of the horses, 

 tie the ends of the fork firmly to each end of the bridle 



