THE DEFENSES OF THE HORSE 



For this animal, I tried a straight bit, and one cov- 

 ered with linen. I also tried using the snaffle only. 

 But nothing worked. The other horses I continued 

 to ride, after giving them flexions on foot. As soon 

 as they "made forces/' I stopped them and flexed 

 again. 



One horse was so stubborn that I was in despair, 

 until a gentleman came to see me, riding a horse 

 that was " cracking nuts." Hearing the horse clack 

 its teeth against one another, gave me the idea of 

 training my subject to do the same. Thereafter, 

 it stopped "making forces." But, unfortunately, 

 cassant la noisette is quite an annoyance, since the 

 horse may bite its tongue and rear. Nevertheless, 

 the fact remains that if a horse " cracks the nut" 

 it cannot "make forces." 



However, in any ordinary case, my advice is to 

 remedy the fault of the mouth by flexions of the 

 mouth and neck, at first standing still, and after- 

 wards at the walk. 



BOLTING AND RUNNING AWAY 



WHEN the forward drive which the horse's hind legs 

 give to the entire body, instead of being directed by 

 the rider's legs, is under the control of the horse's 

 will, it is possible for the animal, impelled by fear, 

 to bolt, and to run at full speed against walls or 

 other riders, into fire or trains, over precipices. All 

 sensibility to the rider's effects has disappeared, 

 and only fatigue can reestablish control. 



334 



