BREAKING A RUNAWAY HORSE 99 



da3's, when he is sometimes sold for a few pounds to a 

 cruel master instead of being peacefully laid to rest. 



BREAKING A RUNAWAY HORSE 



The runaway is a t3'pe of horse that should alwa^'S 

 be avoided, and it is a dangerous task for any but a very 

 capable horseman to try to drive one. I have known 

 of several fatal accidents caused solely by incompetent 

 people attempting to do this. Some horsy men will 

 introduce a jaw -breaking bit with which to injure and 

 bruise the horse's mouth, whilst others employ two pairs 

 of separate reins, one pair for the unfortunate passenger 

 to hold in case the horse " takes the bit in his mouth " 

 and bolts. Oth^r gentlemen of the coper fraternity will 

 nick the nostril or roof of the mouth \^ith a sharp knife 

 and draw several pints of blood, thus rendering the horse 

 so weak that he can hardly stand up. This is when they 

 mistake a runaway for a case of megrims. (The more 

 fits of megrims a horse experiences the quieter he be- 

 comes. The first fit in a colt is awful to watch.) 



My question is, do any of these horsemen's methods 

 actually break the habit of running away ? Of course 

 not. After all, it is only a habit that was caused probably 

 through an accident, or the neglect of unskilled horse- 

 men — generally bad breaking and mouthing. 



