17* 



KICKING. 



means of a strap passing over the nose. This form of checking the 

 head up and back will be found very effective. 



A common method in use years ago for kickers was to put a 

 triangular piece of iron, in form like a V, between the collar and bit f 

 the central point resting on the collar ; and with both ends attached 

 to the rings of the bit, it held the head up in position as desired. A 

 strong-headed, doubtful horse will frequently drive with entire safety 

 when the head is helplessly held up in this manner ; but the check 

 before referred to is the simplest and best means. 



Sometimes the horse will kick only when the rein is caught 



Fig. 234. — Simple Method of Forcing the Head up, and Preventing Kicking by the 

 Elevation of the Hips. 



under the tail. If he is simply irritable, and hugs the rein, the! eas- 

 iest way to prevent it is to wind an ordinary crupper with cloth, or 

 cover nicely with chamios skin, or soft leather, until one half to two 

 inches in diameter, as may be necessary. (See Fig. 240.) This be- 

 ing larger than the rein below makes it impossible for the horse to 

 hug the rein with sufficient strength to hold it. 



When the tail becomes very sensitive from the continued 

 chafing of the parts, its action becomes involuntary. In such cases 

 it must be confined to make the horse safe. This can be easily done 

 by buckling a small strap around it under the hair about two thirds 

 down the dock, from which, on each side, extends a small strap to 

 the hip-straps, and fasten short enough to -prevent the tail from 

 switching around and catching the reins. 



Hip-Strap. 



If the horse is irritable around the hips, but drives all right so 

 long as restrained, or unable to bring the hind parts up, simply 

 strapping him down will sometimes be all that is necessary to do in 



