REARING 



horse that advances at the effects of the rider's legs, 

 giving to the hand of the rider the contact upon the 

 bit, is never accule. 



REARING 



A HORSE, in rearing, shifts the entire weight to the 

 hind hand, brings its hind legs forward under its 

 body, and raises its fore hand 

 very high in the air, either 

 bending its fore legs at the 

 knees or extending them very 

 high and pawing the air. Al- 

 together it is the most danger- 

 ous defense of the horse when 

 habitual, and bad enough when 

 only sporadic. In either case, 

 the animal becomes quite im- 

 possible for a woman rider. 



Rearing may be the result of 

 several causes. The principal 

 ones are: sudden fear; bad eye- 

 sight; weakness in the hind 

 legs or loins; pains within the 

 abdomen or in the region of the sacrum, pelvis, or 

 pubis; too tight a curb chain; a too severe hand; 

 saccades against the bars; abuse of means and ef- 

 fects ; the physical confusion which results from too 

 rapid progress with the training. Sometimes, too, 

 especially at certain ages, the teeth are growing or 

 are being lost, and the gums are sore. Besides 



353 



REARING 



