240 PRECEPT AND PRACTICE. 



encompassing the nose. Many persons put on this 

 (generally) unnecessary appendage, I firmly beheve, 

 merely from thinking it ornamental. It has two 

 radical objections ; if put on tight enough to keep 

 the head in proper position, its being a fixture* 

 renders it dangerous, as having no liberty for an 

 occasional elevation of the head ; and if put on so 

 loosely as to admit of this, it is useless. If people 

 put it on with the idea of checking a horse who has 

 the unpleasant habit of tossing up his head, they 

 make a great mistake. It may, and does, prevent 

 his tossing it high enough to give you a blow on the 

 face if leaning forward ; but it rather increases the 

 habit : the horse finds a check when he throws up 

 his head ; this he does not like ; so as he can do 

 it with impunity, he is constantly tossing up his 

 head to find whether the obstacle is still there or re- 

 moved. 



Bad hands first teach horses to throw up their 

 heads, and it is hard upon the animal to be punished 

 for what he has virtually been taught to do ; still in 

 some cases the end will justify the means. If he 



