KICKING. 93 



hocks, he should get an assistant to stand on the same side, 

 and to draw the head round to it a Httle, so that the animal 

 will not be able to turn round to kick if so inclined. If the 

 horse be a vicious kicker, the advisability of getting the fore 

 leg of the side at which one is standing, held or tied up, will 

 be self-suggestive to any one who has had experience with 

 horses. The forward kick with a hind leg (called a cow kick) 

 has a good deal of range ; as a horse can, in this manner, hit 

 a man who is standing at its shoulder. 



When striking out in front, the horse will generally do so 

 with one foot ; for the blow can be delivered with greater 

 speed when the other fore foot is on the ground, than if 

 both were off it. If he strikes out with both fore feet, he will 

 do so with a quick, short effort, with the object of giving 

 a blow ; or he will make a greater or less attempt at rearing, 

 so as to bring his feet or legs on the top of the offending 

 person or animal with the view of knocking it down. The 

 governing idea, more or less developed, of thus overthrowing 

 his enemy is, evidently, to kneel on him and to bite him. 

 This mode of attack is seldom seen in its complete form, 

 except in the case of entires, which are more prone to bite 

 and strike out with both fore feet than are mares and 

 geldings. Mules usually kick out behind with greater 

 freedom than horses, but are not so much inclined to bite or 

 to strike out in front. Mares, from sexual causes, are more 

 inclined to kick with their hind legs than are the other two. 

 Horses sometimes kick with a hind foot in a good-tempered 

 way, not with the purpose of inflicting pain, but merely to 

 push the object of the attention out of the way, as we may 

 occasionally see a dam do to her foal. Horses often kick 

 in play without any vicious intention. I am convinced that 



