252 CONFESSIONS OP A HORSE DEALER. 



One of the many causes which make pulling horsei 

 is the unsteady seat of their riders ; many men cannot 

 ride a light-mouthed horse, but they can sit & puller with 

 ease, because the firm hold this horse allows them to 

 have on the reins is the main thing upon which they 

 depend to keep their balance. 



I have seen the most inveterate pullers in some 

 people's hands ridden in bits invented by their owners, 

 of regular jaw-breaking or choking power, and still 

 pulling so hard as to tear the skin of their rider's hands. 

 And I have no hesitation in saying having frequently 

 proved my assertions by practice that if one of these 

 tear-away pullers changed hands, and his new owner 

 would bridle him with an easy snaffle, and let him stand 

 in the stable to feel the difference an hour before he 

 mounted him, and, after mounting him, would take up 

 his reins carefully scarcely touching his mouth, and on 

 no account punish him with the whip or spur, handling 

 him lightly and equally at a quiet walk, neither irrita- 

 ting or attempting to restrain him, and subjecting him 

 to this treatment for a few days, the horse would be- 

 come so accustomed to his hand, that he would find out 

 for himself (for a pulling horse is always intelligent) 

 that he had no necessity to pull, for the free use of his 

 head, as his rider grants him this favour, which his last 

 master denied him, and would cause him to be easily 

 managed with a light hand and a snaffle bridle ; in fact, 

 he and his rider would have confidence in each other, 

 which is never the case when a horse is pulling hard 



