234 Restiveness : its Prevetition and Cure, 



spurs, and that, for this purpose, it should always be 

 applied under the horse's chest, about where the girth 

 lies, and never to the buttocks or hind legs, as this 

 usually ends in kicking. The same rule applies equally 

 to the riding-whip ; but this may be also used to great 

 advantage on the horse's shoulders — as, for instance, 

 in cases where the horse is preparing to rear — the effect 

 being to unfix its fore legs from the ground and make it 

 put them forward, just as, when applied under the 

 belly, it brings the hind legs in the same direction. 

 Therefore it is absurd, when a horse defends itself by 

 gathering its legs under it, to strike it under the belly, 

 whereas one or two strokes smartly applied to the 

 shoulders may probably have the effect of getting the 

 fore legs stretched ahead. The promptness and rapid- 

 ity with which the stroke is given, wherever applied, 

 determines, to a great extent, its value ; for if the horse 

 sees it coming, it will flinch away if possible, just as it 

 does from a far-fetched stab with the spur ; and it can 

 do this much more easily with the hind quarters than 

 with its forehand, which is precisely the reason why a 

 flogging — that is, repeated blows aimed at the same 

 place — is generally useless, to say the least, while one 

 or two on the shoulders tell at once. The manner of 

 holding the whip or rod has much to do with this. We 

 have often been amused at hearing would-be sportsmen 

 turn Continental riders to ridicule for holding their 

 whips or switches with the point upward, as if they 

 only wanted to imitate a sabre, whereas this is in reality 

 the position from which a quick, smart stroke on the 

 shoulders can be most effectually applied ; for if the 

 point be held downward, it must be first brought up 

 and then again down, so that it probably comes too late. 



