REARERS. 135 



bablllty of a repetition of running away by this 

 criterion. If, from peculiar circumstances, a horse 

 does so, it is usually only under such circum- 

 stances that he will do so again ; but if, without 

 fright, injury, particular excitement, or improper 

 usage, he runs away, depend upon it he is an old 

 oifender ; nothing will cure him of the propensity, 

 and only force and management opposed to brute 

 force, will prevent his carrying this propensity 

 into execution. 



REARERS. 



This habit, or rather the objections to it, depend 

 on the extent to which it is carried ; be it, how- 

 ever, more or less, it is one that no horsemanship 

 can totally counteract or prevent. All that can 

 be done is, if or when we become aware of the 

 causes of it, to avoid as much as possible putting 

 the horse in the way of them. If the rearing is 

 not carried to a dangerous extent, it is a very 

 pardonable failing ; but if it amounts to a chance 

 of a fall backwards, I do not know of any so 

 dangerous a situation that a rider can be placed 

 in ; and, worse than all, it is one generally afford- 

 ing no hope of cure, and but little of prevention. 



It is true that there are bits made expressly 

 for rearing horses, that will not only in the ge- 

 nerality of cases prevent their getting up, but 

 K 4 



