10 HORSE AND MAN. 



probability is that he will try, by a fresh kick, to get rid of 

 the person who is hitting him. 



I have said that every deliberate act of disobedience com- 

 mitted by a horse should be punished ; but I do not hesitate 

 to add that it is better not to punish him than to do it too 

 late. Both are bad, but it is necessary to choose the lesser 

 of the two evils. 



It is also important to find out what is the motive which 

 has caused a horse either to wilfully disobey or to act on 

 the defensive ; in other words, to find out whether he is 

 vicious or in pain. Thus, if a horse kicks because his loins 

 or hocks are painful, we would not be justified in punishing 

 him, and should do everything to relieve his suffering. 

 But if the kicking is a vice, we ought to severely correct 

 him the moment it is practised, and, to prevent it, we should 

 forcibly raise his head and neck in order to put the weight on 

 his hind quarters. 



BITTING. 



I have nothing particular to say about the snaffle, except 

 that it ought to be rather thick, so as to reduce its severity, 

 and that it should be placed at about an equal distance from 

 the bit and the corners of the mouth. 



The form of a curb bit and the position it is placed in the 

 mouth are points of great importance. It is impossible to 

 decide at first glance what kind of curb will suit a young 

 horse best, and what position it should occupy in his mouth. 

 Baucher says that he would use the same kind of bit for all 

 kinds of horses, which statement is the consequence of his pet 

 theory that all horses have the same kind of mouth. I will 

 discuss this theory further on, and I will here content myself 

 with saying that even the most inexperienced horseman will 

 state that horses go better in one bit than in another, and 

 that certain animals will go kindly in a snaffle, but will resent 



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