354 FAULTS OF TEMPER. 



will often, in such a case, evince his concern, if not regret, 

 at finding that he has inadvertently hurt a human friend. 



Kicking and striking out in front. — We may reduce 

 the kicker to obedience by making him lie down (see 

 page i6i), by keeping him on the ground with his head 

 pulled round (see page 165), or by the head and tail plan 

 (see page 169) until he '' gives in " ; and then by thoroughly 

 mouthing him on foot (especially at the rein-back) w^ith the 

 lone reins, so as to make him more attentive to the indica- 

 tions of the rein than to the practice of his favourite vice. 

 Teaching the horse the meaning of the word ** steady ! " 

 (see page 129) with the rope-twitch will also be of use. I 

 have found that long-rein work on foot is specially applicable 

 to kickers. It not alone teaches them to obey the aids, 

 but also accustoms them to be touched about their hind- 

 quarters. When the breaker is using the long reins, he 

 can always save himself from being kicked by pulling the 

 horse's head round with the inward rein. 



It is advisable to teach a kicker to turn his hind- 

 quarters away from us (see page 179) when we approach 

 him, supposing of course that he is free to do so, as he 

 would be in a loose box for instance. 



One of the most objectionable vices a hunter can have 

 is kicking at other horses or at hounds. The presence of 

 the orthodox danger signal, in the form of a red bow on the 

 animal's tail, is no excuse for bringing into a large field of 

 horses a brute which will resent being touched behind ; for 

 such accidental contact is often unavoidable when going 

 through gates, or when waiting in a lane or road outside a 



