VICIOUS HORSES. 
99 
but if they find that they always get the worst of the contest, they 
will soon learn that it is easier, and consequently pleasanter, to 
themselves to obey at first than at last. To obey is all we want of 
them. To teach them that they must do this, it is by no means 
in all cases necessary to also teach them to dread and consequently 
to hate us. 
With the colt of an absolutely vicious, savage disposition, ad¬ 
vocate as I am for gentle usage of horses, and more particularly of 
young horses, I am aware a different conduct must be pursued; for 
if we cannot eradicate his vices, we have no resource but to make 
him afraid to shew them : in such a case, the best we can make 
him is a subdued savage. Instances, though rare, have been known 
of the zebra being brought to this, but we can seldom or ever get 
further with him, which shews him to be fera natura ; while the 
horse is only wild from the want of being brought in contact with 
man. 
We will now look a little at some of the different modes in 
which horses exhibit vice. 
I must here take the liberty of digressing a little from my subject, 
while I solicit the lenient construction of my reader on any occasion 
when I may mention myself, my own horses, or circumstances that 
may have occurred relative to myself or them: the writer who is 
egotistical to recount his own exploits renders himself most deserv¬ 
edly liable to both ridicule and reproof. But I hope and trust, 
when I bring forward what may have happened to myself, it will 
be seen that I only do so to shew that what I may write, or the 
opinion I may promulgate, is founded on practical experience. It 
is certainly egotism in se, but a description of it, that I trust, when 
brought forward, will be held as not only pardonable, but justifiable. 
Now to return to my subject. 
Biting and Kicking in the Stable. 
This would appear, on the first consideration of it, as positive 
proof of a regular savage disposition ; but to set against this, how 
are we to account for numbers of horses being vicious in the stable, 
but never attempting to bite or kick at either master or stranger 
when out T I had a mare with such a habit. In the stable she 
would be certain to lay hold of any one, if not watched; out of it, 
no quieter animal lived : even in the stall, once get hold of her 
head-collar, she would eat bread or corn out of your hand, and 
even lick it; but the next moment, if loosed, and you turned your 
back, she would seize you to a certainty—it seemed an impulse 
she could not withstand : still, if her biting was from a savage dis¬ 
position, or hatred of man, why would she not bite out of the 
stable! A friend of mine had lately a horse who would let any 
