136 THE STUD. 



will frequently deter them from attempting it, 

 and by so doing get them out of this dangerous 

 habit. Still these bits are not fit for general use, 

 and some horses are quite cunning enough to 

 know when they have them on, and when used 

 without them will rear as much as ever. 



There are numbers of horses who, when in 

 harness, will always rear more or less on starting, 

 or rather just prior to doing so ; such horses, 

 though they may not rise to a dangerous height, 

 often plunge violently forwards just before de- 

 scending ; in which case, unless harness is very 

 strong, a broken trace is a frequent occurrence, 

 and sometimes a splinter bar ; and either may bring 

 on alarm and mischief. If a moderate rear and 

 jump are the only failings, such a horse may be 

 bought with perfect confidence ; the act does not 

 proceed from any vice, but merely a little im- 

 patience, and after first starting such horses are 

 just as quiet as others. 



The horse that rears on being required to go in 

 a particular direction, does so from stubbornness ; 

 he knows he frequently gets his own way by re- 

 sorting to this manoeuvre, which nothing but 

 strong nerves, a strong arm, firm seat, and pa- 

 tience in the rider will counteract. To a man 

 not possessing all these, for all are necessary, I 

 should say reject such a horse at once ; with a 

 hasty tempered rider, the horse will become vio- 



