124 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



is no use with such bolters ; it is better to let them go when 

 there is plenty of room, and then to try what a sharp and 

 severe pull will do, not keeping it up too long if ineffectual, 

 but loosing the mouth again for a time, and then trying 

 again. Sometimes, however, there is no room for this, and 

 then the only plan is to try and bring the head round, either 

 with a view of galloping in a circle, or to run the head 

 against a fence, or even a wall or strong gate. Sometimes 

 anything is better than a straight course — as, for instance, 

 in a crowded thoroughfare, where there would be an almost 

 positive certainty of mischief ; in such a case it is better to 

 do anything than to persevere in the course which the 

 runaway is taking. 



A driver of good nerve may in this extremity pull or 

 drive the horse straight for anything that is insurmountable 

 and that must stop him — say a thick hedge, or even a wall, 

 at all risks of damaging the animal. With judgment and 

 coolness this is the best chance for rider or driver ; indeed, 

 a few bruises or loss of life may be the alternative. We 

 will give an illustration. A friend of the writer's, a civic 

 magnate, well known in connection with the removal of the 

 horse and cattle market from ancient Smithtield to its 

 present site, was driving a high-couraged horse, a new 

 purchase, in a dennet, dov/n Parliament Street. He had a 

 lifelong experience in horseflesh as well as fat cattle, and 

 was a match for any coper that ever chaunted a " screw " 

 in the departed market for " blind 'uns and bolters," which 

 for more than seven centuries was held " in the Smethfelde 

 on the outer syde of Newgate." Our driver, then, who had 

 with him his wife, was no cockney with the ribbons, albeit 

 his calling was exercised within the sound of Bow Bells. 

 At the corner of Charing Cross his horse took fright, and 

 bolted along the somewhat crowded thoroughfare. Desiring 

 his better half to hold fast in her seat until he should bid 

 her jump, he got the animal well by the head, and guiding 

 his frantic steed direct for one of the strong iron gas 

 columns near the Horse Guards, the animal came flush with 

 his forehead against it, fell instantly, as if shot, and rose 

 no more. And how fared the worthy deputy and his better 

 half ? The one jumped cut at the word " Jump ! " and got 

 oft* with a graze, and possibly a bruise ; while the wealthy 

 carcase butcher, as he told us cheerfully, was none the 

 worse, except the repairing of the chaise, which was his 



