BITING AND STRIKING. 



THERE are many habits, which, to break up successfully, 

 requires not only good judgment, but a cool determination. 

 Biting and striking are among the most dangerous, for the 

 least want of watchfulness will often encourage the horse 

 to become aggressive. Hence the necessity of being able 

 to see the intention at a glance, and disconcert the mind 

 from its purpose before being fully developed. Biters and 

 strikers are usually stallions, which are both cautious and 

 courageous. They are of two classes : those that are 

 merely irritable, and liable to bite when not watched, and 

 those that cannot be approached or handled at all with 

 safety. If the subject belongs to the first class, either method 

 of subjection, and use of the war-bridle or double-draw, will 

 give perfect control in a few minutes ; if the second, and he is 

 a stallion, you have a horse that is possibly of the most dan- 

 gerous character, one that, to make a single mistake in his 

 management, would be fatal. The Hettrick horse of New 

 York, referred to on page 1 7, was a remarkable subject of 

 this character : though a gelding, he was so vicious that he 

 would bite, strike, or kick at any one as soon as within his 

 reach. It was entirely impossible, by the greatest delicacy 

 of management, to touch him with the tip of the finger, with- 

 out serious injury. The Hillman horse of Portland, referred 

 to on page 1 8, was another remarkable case, a stallion as 

 cunning and treacherous as a vicious bull-dog. The Wilkins 

 horse, handled by me as a special test trial before Mr. Rob- 

 ert Bonner, in his stable in New York City, was a striker and 

 kicker of the most dangerous character. I was bound to 

 win Mr. Bonner, and Mr. Bonner would have nothing short 

 of the successful control of horses he knew all others failed 

 to break. The Wilkins horse was selected as the worst 

 known in the city. A very little abuse will spoil a certain 



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