324 11ESTIVENESS ; ITS PEEVENTION AND CUKE. 



moment these are fully extended. The effect is perfectly 

 astounding, and a few well-delivered strokes will gene- 

 rally make the kicker only too anxious to get away 

 from the whip and go ahead quietly. Some horses will, 

 however, when baffled in this way, cease kicking, but 

 still refuse to move forward. The trainer must then 

 proceed to " unfix their feet " in the manner described 

 in Chapter II., Part IV., or make them rein-back gradu- 

 ally. Obher horses will perhaps take to "running" 

 backwards. All one can then do is to follow them 

 quietly, merely keeping their heads straight, so that 

 they should not run up against a wall or the like, but 

 always taking care not to press so heavily on the lounge 

 as to throw the animal's weight on the fore legs, as 

 this, of course, will be a good opportunity to renew 

 the kicking. When the horse gets tired of backing it 

 will stop of its own accord. This moment must be 

 attentively watched for by the assistant with the whip, 

 who should then "pitch in" a dexterous stroke under 

 the belly, and this will generally suffice to get the 

 animal to go forwards. 



In conclusion, it cannot be too strongly impressed 

 on the minds of those w T ho undertake to handle restive 

 horses, that very little can be done by main force, 

 nothing at all by cruel or even severe treatment ; 

 whereas everything may be fairly hoped from patience, 

 judgment, and kindness. It is especially in this depart- 

 ment of riding that the truth of our Horatian motto, 

 " Vis consili expers mole ruit sua" verifies itself. One 

 can almost fancy that the passage was suggested to the 

 Latin poet by having seen some Eoman roughrider 

 dragging a rearing horse over on himself. 



