314 EESTIVENESS I ITS PREVENTION AND CURE. 



an opportunity of getting the head up, by first bending 

 the neck to one side. It is, of course, absurd to sit far 

 back on a bucker, sticking out the legs in front ; a man 

 that does so will be shot off over the horse's ears at the 

 first or second plunge. The seat must be central, and 

 the rider's back as straight as possible, although the 

 natural tendency is to round it ; the rider's weight, too, 

 must be thrown " into his heels," right under his seat ; 

 this is the only chance of " sitting out a bucker." 



Hearing is the most dreaded form of vice that occurs, 

 and therefore the dodge that cunning horses resort to 

 most frequently, as they at once perceive that the rider 

 is afraid of it. Still it is by no means so difficult to 

 conquer effectually as is generally supposed ; no doubt 

 a very courageous and cool-tempered rider alone can 

 hope to succeed. 



Bearing would occur much less frequently if it were 

 well understood that it is almost always the last stage 

 of disobedience, and very seldom if ever the first. In 

 fact, its occurrence is evidence of injudicious manage- 

 ment of some kind, either from untrained horses being 

 brought into positions for which they are as yet un- 

 fitted ; or from something being demanded of them that 

 was beyond their power ; or from the rider not knowing 

 how to recognise and subdue the very first symptoms of 

 disobedience; or, finally, from his using violent and 

 intemperate methods of doing so. 



We have already pointed out how bad management 

 of a backing or bucking horse may end in rearing ; but 

 bringing a remount, or sometimes even an old horse, 

 into the company of other horses, and then trying to 

 get it away against its will, will often do the same ; or 

 wanting to force a horse over a jump it does not like, 



