VICES PROPERLY SO CALLED. 871 



would also be well to tie the head to the hay-rack to protect one's self 

 from bites and kicks. 



When these simple means are not efficacious, others must be impro- 

 vised according to circumstances. Recourse may be had, for example, 

 to the muzzle, a side-line, a rope forming a loop around the neck, 

 passed through the mouth, then around the hind pastern, and forward 

 again through the halter, where it is tied or held by an assistant, etc. 

 The important point is to secure the head and keep it in place ; the 

 proceedings, in this respect, vary according to the disposition of the 

 localities, but it would be out of our scope to describe them in detail. 



3d. Horses difficult to Harness or to Mount. In most cases, 

 a horse allows himself to be harnessed without any difficulty, especially 

 if the harness causes him no pain by rubbing over sore places and is 

 applied with care and gentleness. 



Sometimes, however, he offers a most determined resistance. He 

 kicks, strikes in front, rears, squeals, bites, and tries to lie down. Under 

 these conditions, he becomes all the more dangerous according as the 

 man who approaches him is loaded with the harness or blanket with 

 which he wishes to cover him. Certain animals refuse to receive the 

 bit ; they turn their heads from side to side, rear, or try to run away 

 or to bite. Others puff up and resist when an attempt is made to 

 tighten the girth, or to place them between the shafts, or to mount them. 

 In the latter case, the animal often rears, plunges forward, and jumps 

 as soon as the rider's foot is put in the stirrup. Some avail themselves 

 of this moment to bite their rider ; others rear and kick as soon as 

 he is in the saddle ; the more vicious try to dismount their rider, then 

 to lie down and trample upon him. 



Nothing could be more varied than the ways in which this vice is 

 manifested. It may be modified, but it is impossible to overcome it 

 altogether. The most frequent means used consists in fastening the 

 horse's head very short to the hay-rack before harnessing him, in order 

 to prevent him from kicking and biting ; two of his diagonal members 

 are hobbled if he attempts to rear. In some cases recourse must be 

 had to the twitch in order to bridle him. Lastly, it often becomes 

 necessary, to get him between the shafts, to cover his head with an 

 apron. But it is only by a methodical dressing that he can be accus- 

 tomed to receive the rider. 



4th. Horses difficult to Shoe. It is very important, when pur- 

 chasing a horse, to make him lift his feet one after the other, and to 



