KICKING IN HARNESS. 



KICKING, in the first place, is the natural outgrowth of 

 the old system of breaking horses, which depends wholly 

 for success upon the wearing-in process. No effort at all 

 is made to show the horse the nature and character of 

 what is behind him. He is put in harness, and driven. 

 If nothing occurs to excite his fears and resistance, he is 

 likely to work in gently, but if a horse of spirit, if any 

 thing touches his quarters, or any thing unusual occurs to 

 excite him, the habit is excited. As kicking is the horse's 

 principal means of defence when caused by fear, and the 

 horse is a courageous, determined fellow, there is great 

 persistence in the habit. 



In -the first place, if we touch a colt anywhere in the 

 flanks or quarters, and the animal kicks, repeat the irrita- 

 tion and kicking will soon become a confirmed habit. If 

 a mare is irritated by touching, or pricking her in the 

 flanks, she will soon by repetition become so nervous and 

 sensitive that she will squeal and make water when so 

 touched. A good, quiet nature can by this kind of bad 

 treatment and abuse be soon transformed into a squealing 

 kicker, ever ready to kick or fight at the least indication 

 of having any thing pointed toward her, or touched on the 

 quarters. Pull a line under a colt's tail until he kicks ; 

 repeat the trick a few times, and you have a horse that will 

 surely kick if the rein is caught under the tail. Here, 

 then, we see in principle the cause of kicking in harness, 

 and the true policy of preventing it. Now, the colt is 

 pricked and frightened to kick in the harness by chance 

 causes. The rein is caught under the tail by chance, 

 which excites fear and kicking. The tug touches the 

 quarters or the whifHetree, or cross-piece, from some cause, 

 usually the breaking of the harness, or some other disar 

 61 



