,58 THE HORSE 



sary is to apply the right treatment and to apply 

 it intelligently and perseveringly. Some cases 

 require much longer treatment than others, how- 

 ever, and it is impossible to state how long it will 

 take to cure any particular case. One filly, for 

 instance, that came to me with an evil record 

 took over three months of patient training before 

 her disposition to kick was wholly eliminated. On 

 the other hand, I once bought a four-year-old colt 

 that had become a kicker when being broken and 

 was considered so bad that his breaker gave up 

 the job, yet a fortnight's treatment was all that 

 was needed to render him perfectly safe and gentle. 



Many times — indeed generally — the tendency 

 to kick is, in a large measure, cured at the very 

 beginning of treatment. But the horse must still 

 be used with his rigging on and watched carefully 

 for a recurrence of the vice, and he cannot be con- 

 sidered cured till a convincingly long period of 

 good conduct, without even a hint of his vice, in- 

 dicates that his reformation is permanent. 



Another device, which, if preferred, may be used 

 for a while before using the controller may be 

 prepared as follows: 



Proceed exactly as in arranging the controller, 

 but, instead of tying the short end of the cord 

 to the other behind the terrets, adjust it so that 

 both ends are of equal length. Have a ring fas- 



