REARING. 
371 
was almost impracticable even by his ordinary attendants. 
His particular propensity was flying at and worrying any per¬ 
son who came within his reach ; and he has been known to 
turn round and tear the leg of his rider with his teeth, and 
drag him from his back. On one occasion, when he had bid 
defiance to all, the whisperer was sent for, who was shut up 
with him the whole night, and in the morning, so completely 
subdued was this furious animal, that he followed Sullivan 
round the course like a dog—lying down at his command— 
permitting his mouth to be opened, and any person’s hand 
to be introduced into it—in short, he was as quiet as a 
lamb. 
“ At the same meeting on the Curragh of Kildare, he won 
a race, and continued his docility for three years ; but again 
broke out, and having killed a man in one of his furious 
fits, he was ordered to be destroyed/’ 
As I have before said, there is little chance of reclaiming 
a bad-tempered horse by harsh treatment, as I believe it 
will always be found to have an opposite tendency. An ill- 
tempered groom should never be allowed to enter a stable, 
however fit he may be for his business in other respects. 
For a surly, bullying fellow is sure to frighten horses so 
much that as soon as he enters the stable they will jump 
from side to side at his approach. Many a scar has been 
inflicted by such a man, by using his pitch-fork instead of 
soothing the animal for a fault; and if asked how the horse 
came by the blemish, he invents a falsehood to account 
for it. 
REARING. 
Rearing is one of the worst vices in a horse, and is 
practised with the intent to throw the rider off. Sometimes 
it is the result of playfulness, but even then it is a dangerous 
