HUNAWAY HORSES. 209 



is the sudden breaking of some portion of the harness 

 or vehicle, during the process of training, or at some 

 other period, which thus creates nervousness for the 

 rest of their lives ; and likewise, when the horses ex- 

 perience a feel of anything on their hind quarters, which 

 they cannot fully comprehend, when they either com- 

 mence to kick, or gallop away. It is true that there 

 are a few horses where the nervousness is transmitted 

 by descent, and although this can never be thoroughly 

 eradicated, yet much may be done, by way of ameliora- 

 tion, with care and kindness. 



I have known saddle horses, in the hands of some 

 persons, taught to gallop on the hard road, every time 

 they have a clear course or a favourable bit of ground, 

 and their desire for the horse to start is mostly conveyed 

 to him by some signal peculiar to themselves, but 

 nevertheless quite easy to be accidentally practised by 

 others ; such, for instance, as the clicking of the tongue, 

 the sudden application of the heels, leaning the body 

 forward, whipping suddenly on some particular -part of 

 the body, &c., until the horse requires a habit of gallop- 

 ing away at anything bearing a resemblance to these 

 signals, in the hands of other riders. 



But the prevailing cause is the riding of high-couraged, 

 fidgetty, light-mouthed horses by inexperienced per- 

 sons. This kind of animal requires a firm seat and 

 steady hand, which, I need not remark, cannot be prac- 

 tised except by an experienced horseman or woman ; 

 and if proper discretion be not exercised in handling 



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