THE REASONED EQUITATION 



flop back and forth with the movement of the horse. 

 Happily for the latter sort, the horse that supports 

 such treatment is too old or lymphatic to mind 

 anything. Otherwise, with an energetic animal, 

 there would shortly follow a divorce by mutual 

 consent. Still a third sort of rider is the one who has 

 so little confidence in his seat or himself that, when 

 occasion comes, he is afraid to use his spurs with 

 justice and energy. He tickles because he has not 

 the faith to use the persuaders firmly. 



In short, the man who tickles with his spurs is 

 like the man who teases his friends. The one makes 

 himself an annoyance, and commonly finds his 

 retribution in lack of comrades and true friends. 

 The other is likely to make, of a good horse, either 

 a nervous and excited animal, or else a poor, lazy, 

 confused victim and slave. Spurs on the wrong 

 heels are like matches, knives, and firearms in the 

 hands of children. 



On the other hand, certain horses are " ticklish 

 to the spurs." That is to say, they will not accept 

 the contact without showing dislike or fear. Some 

 horses make continual movements of the tail, or 

 turn the head to look at the rider's leg. Some stop; 

 or, if standing, half rear and half back. Some put 

 back their ears, and roar or growl. Some grind 

 their teeth. Some urinate nervously, in small and 

 repeated jets. 



Mares are especially liable to this fault. The 

 cause is usually a too great sensibility of the hairs 



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