KICKING IN HARNESS. 76 



commanded. Put on harness, and tie the tugs into the 

 rings of the breeching rather short. Drive around with the 

 reins, giving a short cut with a good bow whip around the 

 legs once in a while, if not prompt. As the horse learns to 

 spring ahead when commanded, pull a little on the lines, 

 gradually repeating until he will pull quite hard on the bit 

 to go ahead. Make this as thorough as possible. In 

 driving repeat and carry out this, going ahead promptly, 

 whipping up sharply once in a while if necessary. 



The main point to make with horses of this character, is 

 to create a thorough fear of the whip. To do this well while 

 driving with harness, whip around the hind legs sharply, 

 until the horse will start ahead promptly when commanded. 

 Now, attach to wagon and gradually work up with whip 

 until there is prompt obedience. The foot strap may be 

 put on if there is any possible danger of the horse running 

 back when hitched. 



KICKING IN HARNESS. 



This is apparently the most dangerous and difficult habit 

 to overcome, to which horses are subject ; yet it is a habit 

 that yields readily to my treatment, but requires care and 

 thoroughness and a large share of common sense in deter- 

 mining how much must be done and when to stop. This 

 cannot be learned by any fixed rule, since there is such a 

 great difference of extremes shown in this habit that it is 

 not safe to venture a limit of what and how much must be 

 done. I have often broken horses of kicking, of apparently 

 the worst character, in twenty or thirty minutes. Then 

 again, one scarcely confirmed in the habit may require very 

 much more time ; and a few extreme cases, of apparently a 

 mild character when not excited, would call out all my 

 resources for hours, to make the subject yield safely to con- 

 trol. I broke a horse in Maine of the worst character, of 

 kicking, by a few pulls upon the war bridle. At all events, 

 the owner informed me, months afterwards, that the animal 

 remained perfectly docile. This horse would kick at any 

 body or anything. 



But I found a horse in Mississippi, which was perfectly 

 gentle to ride or handle, would only kick when to wagon, yet 

 he was the most terribly persistent kicker when in harness 



