160 
VICIOUS HORSES. 
If a horse only kicks when put to a carriage, I think we may 
fairly conclude it is from some cause that he kicks at the carriage. 
By patience, kindness, and long practice, we may get him out of 
his fear (which in nine times in ten it is), or his dislike to a vehicle 
behind him; but if we find him kick at the harness when put on 
him, it shews one of two things,—either he is a ticklish horse 
behind, consequently dangerous for harness ; or is an old offender, 
and knows both what he is about, and what we are going about 
with him. Whether or not he is the latter is very easily ascer¬ 
tained Put a collar on to his head till it comes up to his eyes; 
if he is unused to this, he will recoil from it; if not, he will rather 
shove his head into it. If, after doing this, I saw him begin to 
wriggle, and his tail go, on the harness being put on his back, I 
should shake my head at him, and suspect 1 had got hold of a 
queerish acquaintance: if he really began to kick,the thing in my 
mind would be settled. 
A colt or horse unused to carry harness will often be much 
alarmed on its first being put on him, and seriously frightened he 
will be if this is roughly or suddenly done; but the chances are he 
will only flounce about in the stall, or get as far up as he can into 
one corner of it: he will probably put his tail close down on the 
crupper being put under it, but if this is gently done, and he is 
caressed, he will rarely actually kick. Should he fling out first one 
heel then the other, as a race-horse does, he does not mean kick¬ 
ing; he is uneasy and inconvenienced, and shews us that he is so; 
half-an-hour, and a few oats to take up his attention, will reconcile 
him to this. On being led out, he may cringe from side to side as 
any part of the harness touches either side—he may even kick out 
on the side touched: this means no mischief; it is being touched 
by a something, he knows not what, and he means to kick it aside, 
nothing more. A walk for half-an-hour, letting the straps very 
gently touch him, will reconcile him to this also; and if carefully 
put into the carriage, and driven off very gently, I will answer for 
his not hurting any one or any thing, unless extraordinary timidity 
may make him do it, and if he does he shews fear only, but no 
vice on earth. 
Now the old offender will not perhaps actually kick at the har¬ 
ness in the stable, though he may shew his total disapproval of 
carrying it; he waits till he finds we are actually in earnest as to 
putting him to a carriage. But the moment we bring him out of 
the stable he thinks it quite time to begin to work, though not the 
work we want of him, and will shew us what he can and means to 
do, by sending his heels whizzing in the air, without a moment’s 
intermission; no doubt of his kicking at the carriage. I have 
seen many horses, who would shew little or no dislike to the har- 
