HORSEMANSHIP 131 



in my stirrups and bumped my head somewhat 

 severely against the luggage-rack, thereby in- 

 ducing a slight concussion of the brain. It was, 

 indeed, a splendid run, and one that I shall 

 remember all my life, and hope to describe to 

 my grandchildren when they gather round my 

 knee on winters' evenings by the fireside. 



6. 



It is very far from my purpose to weary the 

 reader with advice as to the breaking or training 

 of refractory horses. I may, however, be per- 

 mitted to say a not inappropriate word or two 

 upon the treatment of those minor vices with 

 which every rider may be called upon to deal. 



It is said to be possible to cure a horse of 

 rearing by breaking a bottle over its head 

 directly it begins to show signs of wishing to 

 stand upon its hind-legs. Personally, I have 

 never found this method to be of the slightest 

 use, and in the case of a polo-pony of mine, 

 called Weaselface, which I baptized in this 

 fashion with no less than three dozen bottles 

 of Apollinaris, the result was perfectly futile. 

 Indeed, though I subsequently broke a magnum I 

 of Perrier Jouet '93, two jars of Oxford mar- ' 

 malade, a box of Carsbad plums, and a flask of 1 

 Odol, over the obstinate creature's head, I 1 



