JIBBING HORSES. 153 



minutes, but one who will be disposed to do so 

 when more than common exertion is required. 



A horse that is not staunch to his collar is 

 never safe to be driven in crowded streets ; for, 

 probably at the very moment when, to avoid 

 danger, we want him to make an exertion, he 

 hangs back in his traces ; leaving us, carriage 

 and all, to be cracked like a nut between two coal 

 Avaggons : hit him, he runs back, or plunges. 



In a country where the hills are such as render 

 it necessary to get up them in a w^alk, such a 

 horse would probably be useless, and as probably 

 dangerous ; for jibbers are not always satisfied 

 with stopping, but will run back, and are then 

 as likely to land us in a ditch, or send us over a 

 precipice, as leave us in the road. The only 

 security against this taking place is (if there is 

 room, and few places are so narrow as to pre- 

 vent it), instead of urging the horse forw^ard, to 

 at once turn him sidcAvays to the hill ; in other 

 terms, directly across the road. Generally speak- 

 ing, after standing thus a few minutes, he will 

 go on ; at all events it stops his running back. 



"Where hills are moderate, that is, such as can 

 be trotted up, a horse must be a very rank jibber 

 if he stops, unless the hill be very long and wea- 

 risome ; in w^hich case, before he does, turn him 

 sideways, and give him a minute's breathing time. 

 In such a country, with a little judicious manage- 



