SPECIAL FORMS OF RESTIVENESS. 319 



deliberately-aimed blows on the animal's buttocks 

 not striking wildly, but taking care to hit one and the 

 same spot repeatedly, and watching anxiously for the 

 moment when the rearer shows signs of getting tired of 

 standing on its hind legs, and is about to go down. 

 This is the moment at which the last and most effective 

 cut of the whip should be inflicted ; and this, too, is the 

 moment for the trainer to give a short, sharp drag on 

 the lounge downwards ; and if the whip has been 

 applied at the right moment, the horse will have been 

 compelled to obey the lounge, the trainer's mastery will 

 have been asserted, and if the horse ever again attempts 

 to rear, during lounging, a very gentle pull of the 

 cavesson on its nose reminds it of its previous defeat, 

 and will probably insure obedience ; if not, the lesson 

 must be repeated in the same manner. 



Should one or the other hind leg appear to be giving 

 way, as often happens, whilst the horse stands erect, 

 the trainer should give a good smart pull on the lounge 

 to the same side, which will throw the animal flat on 

 its side, instead of allowing it to fall on its back, which 

 is always attended with danger. Sometimes, no doubt, 

 a fall of the latter kind will cure the animal for ever ; 

 but it is better, for many reasons, that the horse, having 

 lost the power of maintaining itself and offering further 

 opposition to the trainer's will, should be compelled to 

 take the inevitable fall in the direction he prescribes. 



Most horses, when they do at length consent to bring 

 their fore legs to the ground, especially if the whip has 

 been vigorously applied at the proper moment, will 

 make a sudden plunge forward, which is so much the 

 better ; the trainer must then step smartly to one side 

 the off one, if possible and catch the horse cannily in 



