68 KICKING IN HARNESS. 



and courage are so great that it is difficult to make a point 

 upon him before producing this condition. Yet, some- 

 times, horses that are of a very bad character will work in 

 very easily, remaining frequently, after one lesson, perfectly 

 gentle. The point is to work sure and quick. The course 

 I now pursue is to feel carefully to see if I can apply pas- 

 sive treatment safely : if I can, I apply it quickly, with 

 about all the power I can. If you can make this point 

 without trouble, the rest is easy. If the horse kicks hard 

 when the quarters or legs are touched with a pole, it .is 

 nothing : he will soon quit that, and stand quietly to be 

 poled and touched as you please. The best way is now 

 to bring up your pole-rig (if you have one, and, if you have 

 not, make one), so that the cross-piece will come against 

 the quarters, and keep doing so until you see no cringing 

 or indication of kicking ; now gradually remove your pres- 

 sure as you can safely, and, at the last, turn the cord 

 quickly into the double hitch, and hold your point with it. 

 Follow up as before, touching the cross-piece against the 

 quarters, and as the horse gives up let up oh him, at the 

 same time encouraging by kind treatment. Have a little 

 oats, apples, sugar, and salt, or something else of which 

 the horse is fond, and give him a little as he does well. 

 Now put on the harness, and carry control to the mouth 

 direct with the breaking-bit. First drive around with the 

 harness until you feel that you have the horse well in 

 hand. Now attach to the poles, driving and testing hard, 

 in all cases making the horse submit perfectly to the con- 

 trol of the lines, though the shafts or poles strike the heels. 

 No matter how well the horse works, try him carefully 

 next day, and try him thoroughly, before you take the 

 chance of putting him before a buggy. As a general rule, 

 one or two sharp lessons will make a horse work safely. 

 At least half the kickers taken in hand to illustrate princi- 

 ples before the class remain thoroughly broken of this 

 habit, and can be driven afterwards safely. But the way 

 a horse works in and yields to control must determine 

 how much to do. When I have a good place, I some- 

 times, if I find the subject a bad one, subject the case, 

 first, to first and second methods, because easily applied, 

 and make a powerful impression : I now, if I think advisa- 



