238 SOME CURIOUS HORSES 



he would have damaged the man. On loosening 

 his head, thinking he would feed quietly, he snapped 

 at the corn just as a terrier does at a rat, catching 

 up a mouthful and then dropping it. I at last 

 managed to slide slowly out of his stall, and left 

 him for the night. 



The next day I sent for some men to clip him. 

 They did their work very well, but I subsequently 

 heard that they declared they would never touch 

 him again ; they would as soon clip a Bengal tiger. 



Soon after this I had him out for a ride and 

 discovered another of his amiable peculiarities. 

 Whenever he met or passed a conveyance of any 

 sort, he kicked out at it most furiously ; I suppose 

 that some time or other he had been struck when 

 passing something. It was a most dangerous trick, 

 and took a very long time and great patience to 

 overcome. However, at last I cured him. 



Another peculiarity that he had was his great 

 objection to my mounting him when in uniform. 

 He did not mind it in the least when I was once 

 in the saddle, and took not the slightest notice of 

 my sword rattling against his ribs ; but he could 

 not bear the act of mounting. I used to have him 

 blindfolded at first, but afterwards, by always pet- 

 ting him, giving him sugar, &c, he lost his dislike 

 to being mounted. 



