CURE OF VICES 53 



tion, that nothing can be done till this is accom- 

 plished, and that it must be accomplished, not by 

 punishment, but by a display of power. Fur- 

 thermore, to succeed you must be very patient as 

 well as persevering, always remembering that you 

 are dealing with an intelligence inferior to your 

 own and exemplifying the grand old Arab pro- 

 verb "Fear and anger a good horseman never 

 shows." 



In the treatment for kicking, the disposition 

 to kick should, as far as possible, be taken out of 

 the horse before he is harnessed. It is best to 

 begin by laying him down a few times. A horse 

 lying prone upon the ground is robbed of all his 

 natural means of defense, and the knowledge that 

 you can, at your pleasure, place him in this hum- 

 ble and defenseless position has a very chastening 

 effect on his mind. 



Having first selected a smooth piece of green- 

 sward where he will not hurt himself, put on him 

 a bridle and surcingle and strap up his near fore- 

 foot with a breeching-strap — the short loop 

 around his foot, between hoof and fetlock, and 

 the long one over the upper part of his leg. Fas- 

 ten one end of a long strap to the off forefoot 

 below the fetlock, pass the other end up through 

 the surcingle and take it in your right hand, the 

 bridle-rein being in your left. Push the horse 



