VICES ON THE ROAD 123 



piece acts against the upper part of the mouth, in a manner 

 it cannot do when the animal has the power of opening it 

 to ease the pressure. This nose-band will be found useful 

 with hard pullers, and " borers" in the hunting-field. 



This dangerous propensity generally shows itself in 

 nervous young horses, who at the least noise behind or 

 beside them become alarmed, break from a trot to a gallop, 

 and, terrified by the impotent struggles of their riders to 

 stop them, or the still pursuing sound of wheels behind 

 them, become maddened, and dash on in their perilous 

 career. When a horse finds or thinks he has succeeded in 

 these efforts to escape danger, on a recurrence of the noise 

 or cause of fright he will pursue the same course, to the 

 peril not only of rider or driver, but of himself, and what- 

 ever he may meet with in his impetuous flight. The vice 

 becomes confirmed, and it is only by the utmost nerve, 

 coolness, and command of temper, dashed with kindness, 

 and the "rational" treatment of the mania (for panic-fear 

 in horses is madness), that we can hope to cheek the 

 disease. When a horse is known to have a tendency to 

 running away, be extra particular that all portions of his 

 " furniture " be sound and strong, particularly bridles, 

 reins, and bits ; get a firm, steady hold of him at starting, 

 and speak to him soothingly and encouragingly. At the 

 very first symptom of a bolt check him sharply and speak 

 to him in a firm voice ; never allow him to increase his 

 pace of his own accord, or fear will augment it and he will 

 break into a gallop. Keep the reins in driving evenly in 

 hand, but do not by a constant pull deaden the mouth. Be 

 ready to catch him well by the head quickly, and you may 

 get him under command v/ithout frightening him. 



In the saddle, on a determined brute, it is a good manoeuvre 

 to select a hill, and, giving him his head, urge him an uphill 

 burster ; this has " taken it out " of many a " bolter," by 

 making him go his hardest for your pleasure, just as he was 

 thinking of doing it of his own wilfulness and vice. In this 

 the horse resembles not a few of our reasoning race, who will 

 w^ork hard for pleasure, but will do nothing in the shape of 

 work, either for utility or to serve another. These customers 

 we have found, when fresh, will try it on again ; but a good 

 rider — and none other should mount or drive them — will 

 make them tired of their little game ; and then such animals 

 generally prove fir^t-raters. As we have said, a dead pull 



