198 MODERN FARRIER. 



cause, whenever he frets from either of these causes, 

 his head will not be steady. 



It is a common custom to be always pulling at 

 t]ie bridle, as if to set off to advantage either the 

 spirit of the horse or the skill of the rider. Our 

 horses therefore are taught to hold their heads low, 

 and pull so as to bear up the rider from the saddle 

 standing in his stirrups, even in the gentlest gallop : 

 how very improper is this we are experimentally 

 convinced, when we happen to meet with a horse 

 which gallops otherwise. We immediately say, he 

 canters excellently, and find the ease and pleasure of 

 his motion. When horses are designed for the race, 

 and swiftness is the only thing considered, the me- 

 thod may be a good one. 



It is not to be wondered that dealers are always 

 pulling at their horses, that they have the spur con- 

 stantly in their sides, and are at the same time con- 

 tinually checking the rein : by this^ means they 

 make them bound, and champ the bit, while their 

 rage has the appeai'ance of spirit. These people 

 ride with their arms spread, and very low on the 

 shoulders of their horses : this method makes them 

 stretch their necks, and gives a better appearance to 

 their forehands ; it conceals also a thick jaw, which, 

 if the head was up, would prevent its yielding to 

 the bit ; it hides likewise the " ewe-neck, wdiich 

 would otherwise shev/ itself. Indeed, if you have a 

 horse unsteady to the bit, formed with a natural 

 heavy head, or one which carries his nose obstinately 

 in the air, you must find his mouth where you can, 

 and make tlie best of him. 



Many horses are taught to start, by whipping 

 them for starting. How is it possible they can 

 ktrow it is designed as a punishment? In the 

 riding-house, you teach your liorse to rise up before, 

 and to spring and lash out his hinder legs, by whip- 

 ping him when tied between two pillars, with his 

 head a little at liberty. If he understood this to be 



