VICES ON THE ROAD 121 



the saddle like a soldier's cloak, will greatly add to the safety 

 of the rider. The general treatment must be, as so often 

 said before, the "soothing system," with firm but very 

 moderate punishment. 



Rearing. — This is a common trick with young horses, and 

 is of tener playfulness and mere animal spirits than anything 

 like " temper." It is, however, alarming, and may be very 

 dangerous to the timid or unskilful rider, when it is a 

 decided rise, involving also the unintentional danger to the 

 animal itself of a roll over. Generally, however, it is in 

 colthood a series of wanton gambolling skips, which some- 

 times go off like the freaks of a kitten ; out lest they become 

 a habit, and partake of an attempt to get rid of the rider, 

 severity and hurry must be avoided. Use for a time — it may 

 not be permanently/ needed — a martingale, with a running 

 rein commencing at the breast strap of the martingale, and 

 then, running through the ring of the snaffle, bring it back 

 to the hand. This will give you a full power of the horse's 

 head when its exercise is called for, and will not distress 

 him while he behaves himself. When the horse rises, lean 

 well forward and hold by the coif and inner thigh, loosen- 

 ing the bridle a little when he is in the air, and then bring- 

 ing his head in as ho descends. A rough remedy for rearing 

 has been tried by some horse-breakers — we do not recom- 

 mend it ; the process is to provide yourself with a bottle of 

 water, and when the horse rises break it between his ears 

 by a smartish tap. 



SJiouldering. — Some obstinate ponies and ill-taught horses 

 have acquired this ugly trick. It consists in trying to 

 squeeze the rider's leg against a post, paling, or wall, and to 

 scrape him off the saddle. We once had a little Welshman 

 who had a genius for this when he had a youngster on his 

 back ; we cured him by mounting him ourselves, and when 

 he tried this lateral movement (which is easily overcome 

 by putting out the foot as he sidles towards the object), 

 we found a sharp pull of the near rein (it seems almost 

 universally tried on the oif-side), coupled with a most 

 unmistakable simultaneous slash over the off ear, brought 

 him clear away. Three or four of these lessons, in an 

 orchard well studded with old trees, made him pass as 

 clear of them as could be desired. 



Hugging the Pole. — "Harry Hieover" thus proposes to 

 deal witi) an animal exhibiting this not uncommon propen- 



