50 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



to doze. This method was the same in principle as 

 that by which falconers used to tame their hawks ; 

 and there can be little doubt that the discipline which 

 could subdue those savage and impetuous birds, would 

 have been no less efficacious in bringing down the 

 unruly temper of the more generous quadruped. 



We have now to speak of certain horse-taming 

 exploits, which have in them a strong tincture of the 

 marvellous, but which are nevertheless, authenticated 

 by undeniable evidence. 



At the Spring meeting of 1804, Mr. Whalley's 

 horse, King Pippin, was brought on the Curragh of 

 Kildare to run. He was a horse of the most strangely 

 savage and vicious disposition. His particular pro- 

 pensity was that of flying at and worrying any person 

 who came within his reach ; and, if he had an oppor- 

 tunity, he would turn his head round, seize his rider 

 by the leg with his teeth, and drag him down from 

 his back. For this reason he was always ridden with 

 what is called a sword ; this is a strong, flat stick, 

 having one end attached to the check of the bridle, 

 and the other to the girth of the saddle a contrivance 

 to prevent a horse of this kind from getting at his 

 rider. 



King Pippin had long been difficult to manage, and 

 dangerous to go near ; but on the occasion in question, 

 he could not be got to run at all : nobody could put 

 the bridle on his head. There was a large concourse 



