334 THE HORSE. 



last, fairly beat him out of the forge. Time, however, and a long- perse- 

 verance in kind and gentle treatment, have effected what force could not. 

 The horse is now pretty reasonable to shoe.' 



BACKING OR GIBBING. 



One of the first species of restifness, taking them in alphabetical order, is 

 BACKING or GIBBING. These are so closely alHed that we hardly know 

 how to separate them. Some horses have the habit of backing at first 

 starting, and that more from playfulness than desire of mischief. A mo- 

 derate application of the whip will usually be effectual. Others, even at 

 starting, exhibit considerable obstinacy and viciousness. This is frequently 

 the effect of bad breaking. Either the shoulder of the horse had been 

 wrung when he was first put to the collar, or he had been foolishly accus- 

 tomed to start in the break vp-hill, and, therefore, all his work coming 

 upon him at once, when it being much more difficult to draw the break 

 up-hill, than to back and let it run down-hill, he gradually acquired this 

 dangerous habit. 



A hasty and passionate breaker will often make a really good tempered 

 young horse an inveterate gibber. Every young horse is "at first shy of 

 the collar. If he be too quickly forced to it, he will possibly take a dislike 

 to it, that will occasionally show itself in the form of "gibbing as long as 

 he lives. The judicious horse-breaker will resort to no severity, even if 

 the colt should go out several times without touching collar. The 

 example of his companion will ultimately induce him to take to it volun- 

 tarily and effectually. 



A large and heavy stone should be put behind the wheel before starting, 

 v/hen the horse, finding it more difficult to back than to go forward, will 

 gradually forget this unpleasant trick. It will likewise be of advantage, 

 as often as it can be managed, so to start that the horse shall have to back 

 up-hill. The difficulty of accomplishing this will soon make him readily 

 go forward at once. A little coaxing, or leading, or moderate flagellation, 

 will assist in accomplishing the cure. 



When, however, a horse, thinking that he has had enough of work, or 

 has been improperly checked or corrected, or beginning to feel the painful 

 pressure of the collar, swerves, and gibs, and backs, it is a more serious 

 matter. Persuasion should here first be tried ; and, afterwards, reason- 

 able coercion, but no cruelty : for the brutality which is often exercised in 

 attempting to compel a gibbing horse to throw himself habitually into the 

 collar, never yei accomplished the purpose. The horse may, perhaps, be 

 whipped into motion, but if he has once begun to gib, he will have recourse 

 to it again whenever any circumstance displeases or annoys him ; and the 

 habit will be rapidly, and so completely formed, that he will become insen- 

 sible to all severity. 



It is useless and most dangerous to contend with a horse determined to 

 back, unless there is plenty of room, and, by tight reining, the driver can 

 make him back in the precise direction he wishes, and especially up-hill. 

 Such a horse should be immediately sold, or turned over to some other 

 work. In a stage-coach as a wheeler, and particularly as the near-wheeler ; 

 or, in the middle of a team at agricultural work, he may be serviceable. 

 It will be useless for him to attempt to gib there, for he will be dragged 

 along by his companions whether h« will or no ; and, finding the inutility 

 of resistance, he will soon be induced to work as well as any horse in the 

 team. This reformation will last while he is thus employed, but, hke res- 

 tifness generally, it will be delusive wheu the horse returns to his former 



