MODERN FARRIER. 215 



he be impatient or choleric, never strike him, unless 

 he absolutely refuse to go forward ; which you must 

 resolutely oblige him to do, and which will be of 

 itself a correction, by preventing his having time to 

 meditate and put in execution any defence by re- 

 taining himself. Resistance in horses, you must 

 consider, is sometimes a mark of strength and vi- 

 gour, and proceeds from spirit, as well as sometimes 

 from vice and weakness. Weakness frequently 

 drives horses into viciousness, when any thing 

 wherein strength is necessary is demanded from 

 them : nay, it inevitably must : great care therefore 

 should ahvays be taken to distinguish between these 

 two causes before any remedy or punishment is 

 thought of. It may sometimes be a bad sign wlien 

 horses do not at all defend themselves, and proceeds 

 from a sluggish disposition, a want of spirit, and of 

 a proper sensibility. Whenever one is so fortunate 

 as to meet with a horse of just the right spirit, acti- 

 vity, delicacy of feeling, with strength and good 

 nature, he cannot be cherished too much ; for such 

 a one is a rare and inestimable jewel, and, if properly 

 treated, will in a manner do every thing of himself. 

 Horses are oftener spoilt by having too much done 

 to them, and by attempts to dress them in too great 

 a hurry, than by any other treatment. 



It is impossible, in general, to be too circumspect 

 in lessons of all kinds, in aids, chastisements, or ca- 

 resses. Some have quicker parts, and more cunning 

 than others. INIany will imperceptibly gain a little 

 every day on the rider. Various, in short, are their 

 dispositions and capacities. It is the rider's business 

 to find out their different qualities, and to make 

 them sensible how much he loves them, and desires 

 to be loved by them ; but at the same time that he 

 does not fear them, and will be master. 



Plunging is a A^ery common defence among res- 

 tive and vicious horses : if they do it in the same 

 place, or backing, they must, by the rider's legs and 



