trainer misses an opportunity by being driven to this extremity. Kicking. There is a difference between kicking and kicking. One horse will kick in harness, and not under a rider; another will do just the reverse. The former is probably extremely ticklish and sensitive to anything coming in contact with its hind quarters; mares are frequently so, especially in spring. The latter will probably have some weakness in the loins or hind quarters that is rendered painful when weight is put on its back. When this vice proceeds from natural causes of this description, there is no help for it but to employ the horse in whichever way it is content to do its work quietly. Again, one horse will kick at the spurs, another at the whip; of course the exciting cause, whatever it be, must be avoided. fre But something can be done with young horses that simply take to kicking during the handling; very quently the trainer has made some mistake, or been in too great a hurry, or put the saddle too far back, or girthed the animal too suddenly or too tightly. All this should be, in the first place, well inquired into and ascertained, and the vice will disappear with its exciting cause. There are, however, some young ones that take to kicking simply because they don't choose to go. These should be put on the lounge with the dumb-jockey, which will prevent their getting their heads down, what a kicking horse always attempts to do. If the horse stops on the circle and begins to kick, the trainer should proceed precisely in the same manner as with the rearer that is, after shortening the lounge, and placing himself in front of the animal, simply wait patiently. Meanwhile the assistant with the whip must place himself behind the kicker, and holding a sufficiently long whip in readiness, wait till the horse has extended its hind legs to their utmost stretch. This is the moment to apply a good stroke of the lash just under the animal's belly, taking care never to hit the hind legs, nor to strike at all except at the moment these are fully extended. The effect is perfectly astounding, and a few well-delivered strokes will generally make the kicker only too anxious to get away from the whip and go ahead quietly. Some horses will, however, when baffled in this way, cease kicking, but still refuse to move forward. The trainer must then proceed to "unfix their feet" in the manner described in Chapter II. Part III., or make them rein back gradually. Other horses will perhaps take to "running" backwards. All one can then do is to follow them quietly, merely keeping their heads straight, so that they should not run up against a wall or the like, but always taking care not to press so heavily on the lounge as to throw the animal's weight on the fore legs, as this, of course, will be a good opportunity to renew the kicking. When the horse gets tired of backing it will stop of its own accord. This moment must be attentively watched for by the assistant with the whip, who should then "pitch in" a dexterous stroke under the belly, and this will generally suffice to get the animal to go forwards. In conclusion, it cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of those who undertake to handle restive horses, that very little can be done by main force, nothing at all by cruel or even severe treatment, whereas everything may be fairly hoped from patience, judg ment, and kindness. It is especially in this department of riding that the truth of our Horatian motto, "Vis consili expers mole ruit suâ," verifies itself. One can almost fancy that the passage was suggested to the Latin poet by having seen some Roman roughrider dragging a rearing horse over on himself. Handling, school method, 215. Hard mouth, 109, 113. Place of the bit in horse's mouth, Head and neck, Baucher's position Place of the curb, 173. Head and neck, overhanging, 39. Head, Sir F., on seat, 77-79. Hook-curb, 175. Jaw, lower, 129. Jockey's saddle and seat, 74. Kicking, 260. Length of bars of bit, 163. Lever action in saddles, 49. Marochetti's statuettes, 103. Mouthpiece, 176-185. Mouth, width of, 133. Narrow throat, 127. Place of the girth, 52-54. Port of mouthpiece, 176, 178. Race-horse weights, 96. Reins, running, 155. Saddle-flaps, 60. Saddle, Hungarian, 48, 99. School method of handling, 215. Seat, good and bad, Mr Apperley, Seat, hunting, 70. Seat, jockey's, 74. Seat, military, 89-104. Seat, "tongs across a wall," 80, 91. Snaffle, twisted, 149. Soft and hard mouth, 103-109. Standing stiff, 164-166. Statuettes, Marochetti's, 103. Neck and head, Baucher's position, Steppers, short and long, 33. |