KICKING. 355 



covert which is being drawn. Making the horse attentive 

 to the aids, by putting him through a strict and long course 

 of instruction, both on foot and when mounted (see Chap- 

 ters v., VI., and IX.), is certainly the most effective means 

 of getting such a kicker under control ; for when he has 

 acquired the habit of not alone obeying the signals given by 

 hand and leg, but also of keeping his attention fixed on 

 looking out for them, as long as the rider is on his back, he 

 will have neither the inclination nor the time to commit 

 assaults on his neighbours, even under a fair amount of 

 provocation. To make doubly sure, the rider of the well 

 broken-in horse which was formerly a kicker in the hunting 

 field, should, in case of doubt, collect him with hands and 

 legs, and should lighten his forehand by raising the animal's 

 head. Here, a touch of the curb and a sharp word of 

 reproof will aid in maintaining discipline. I may point out 

 that, as a rule, immediately before a horse kicks with both 

 hind legs, he transfers a considerable portion of the weight 

 borne by them to his fore legs, and to do this the more 

 easily, he lowers his head. As far as I have seen, horses 

 which kick in the hunting field generally lash out with 

 only one hind leg, and often do so without the slightest 

 provocation or warning either to their rider or to the object 

 of their malice. Also, my experience is that kickers out 

 hunting strike their victims more frequently without being 

 touched, than by being stimulated to do so by contact. If 

 to this indictment we add the fact that when horses which 

 are strangers to each other, get turned out into a field 

 together, they are very apt to kick each other, even though 

 they be usually good tempered ; we cannot help coming 



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