266 PRECEPT AND PEACTICE. 



occur as that which first caused them to kick, which 

 may have been a very simple aflfair after all. For 

 instance : 



I had a mare that had always gone quietly in 

 harness. One day a man came galloping past me ; 

 the mare being very fresh, and in high condition, 

 squeaked and threw up her heels in mere wanton- 

 ness ; but finding the cross bar of the gig oppose 

 her, she "set to" in earnest, and the combined 

 efforts of myself and man could only hold her, while 

 a third person disengaged her from the vehicle. 

 The next day I put her again in harness, but with 

 an unmistakeable kicking-strap on. She went per- 

 fectly quiet, and continued to do so, till one day a 

 person passed us as before ; she remembered the 

 kicking-match, and, but for the kicking-strap, would 

 have, in technical phrase, " kicked a town down." 

 I drove her for six months after this, she being a 

 favourite and wager-fast. I then was tempted by 

 price and sold her, telUng the purchaser of her pro- 

 pensity. 



I have now given such hints as space' permits as 



