308 EESTIVENESS I ITS PREVENTION AND CUKE. 



the stirrups, probably at the same time throwing their 

 own weight as far back as possible towards the horse's 

 loins. Energy is an admirable thing, but the energy 

 of stupidity seldom avails much ; and the above plan 

 of proceeding is nearly sure to make matters worse, 

 and convert a terrified animal into a vicious one. For 

 whether the anguish the poor horse endeavours to escape 

 from has its seat in the hind quarters or in the head and 

 neck, severe bitting is sure to aggravate it, and a rude 

 hard hand will do the same. The best in fact the only 

 remedy for a bolter is, a very carefully-fitted and well- 

 adjusted bit, a perfectly painless curb, a light hand, and 

 last bub not least, a very firm steady seat, somewhat 

 forward with horses that have weak hind quarters. 



It is always a good plan to put a bolter on the lounge, 

 not, indeed, as is generally done, with the idea of 

 letting it exhaust itself, for weakness is more frequently 

 the exciting cause than strength ; but for the purpose 

 of studying carefully its action, and finding out by 

 degrees in what position or trim it will go steadily and 

 quietly in different places. The object will be, of course, 

 with a horse that is weak behind, to train it on the 

 forehand, getting its neck just sufficiently high up to 

 prevent its being able, when the bit is applied, to bend 

 its head round towards the hand, so as to escape 

 altogether the lever-action of that instrument ; but, on 

 the other hand, not so high or so far back as to throw 

 the weight on the hind legs. This will also afford a key 

 as to the dimensions of the lower cheek of the bit. 



With a short-necked, narrow-throated, heavy-headed, 

 perhaps straight -shouldered horse, possessing good ser- 

 viceable hind quarters, the first object will be to get 

 these to bear the weight gradually in the manner 



