VICIOUS HORSES. 
165 
KICKING WHEN MOUNTED. 
This, if not accompanied by plunging, is really more a nasty 
trick or habit than a vice: possibly in many cases the rogue does 
it to get one off his back. But it is often brought on by a saddle 
being put on when the back has been sore; perhaps he has got 
rid of a rider by this, and so does it again. But it is not unfre- 
quently taught by boys pinching the spine behind the saddle; a 
very common habit with such youngsters when at exercise, if not 
well watched. I saw a horse, a few weeks since, that had this 
habit; he was, and is, always obliged to be mounted in some place 
before he is taken into the street or road: here he has his kick 
out, and is then quiet for the day, dismount and mount as often as 
you please. I saw him kick a very good riding boy off his back 
three separate times: he only gave one kick each bout; but, the 
boy being light, he went off like a tennis ball. The moment the 
lad was off, the horse was tranquil, as if nothing had happened. 
The next time the boy started him off in a gallop before he had 
time to kick; on pulling him up, the master mounted, and the 
horse went off perfectly quiet. 
I had a mare that would always kick, but not violently, on first 
being mounted, either with a saddle, or her clothing, or bare-backed. 
She was very handsome, and a beautiful goer. My wife took a 
fancy to have her for her own riding, much to my alarm. How¬ 
ever, the side-saddle was put on, and two men and myself ready 
to hold her if necessary. My wife got on her : to our astonish¬ 
ment the mare walked off, and never then or after attempted to 
kick with a side-saddle on; but was just the same as ever when 
a man or boy mounted her. No doubt she had been ill-used or 
played tricks with by some one of the he generation, but never 
by a woman. We must not call this vice. 
The only thing to do with a horse that has this donkey-like trick 
is, first, to abstain from doing that which some persons would re¬ 
commend, namely, punishing him for it. Beating a horse for vice, 
or, in more common and vulgar phrase, “ licking it out of him,” I 
think I may say always makes him worse. If it is merely a trick, 
it does not deserve severe punishment; by administering which 
the horse becomes ill-tempered, and does the same thing more 
violently from dislike, than he did before from habit. If it is from 
sheer vice, whoever pleases may try the effect of severity with 
something like justice on their side; but they will rarely find it 
answer. 
VOL. XXII. 
z 
