Some horses are addicted to a very troublesome and vicious habit of
turning round suddenly,--we do not here allude to shyness, but
restiveness,--without exhibiting any previous symptom of their
intention. A horse soon ascertains that the left hand is weaker than the
right, and, consequently, less able to oppose him; he, therefore, turns
on the off side, and with such force and suddenness, that it is almost
impossible, even if the rider be prepared for the attack, to prevent
him.
In this case, it would be unwise to make the attempt: the rider would be
foiled, and the horse become encouraged, by his success in the struggle,
to make similar endeavours to have his own way, or dismount his rider.
The better plan is, instead of endeavouring to prevent him from turning,
with the left hand, to pull him sharply with the right, until his head
has made a complete circle, and he finds, to his astonishment, that he
is precisely in the place from which he started.
Should he repeat the turn, on the rider's attempting to urge him on, she
should pull him round, on the same side, three or four times, and assist
the power of the hand in so doing, by a smart aid of the whip, or the
leg. While this is doing, she must take care to preserve her balance, by
an inclination of her body to the centre of the circle described by the
horse's head.
The same plan may be pursued when a horse endeavours to turn a corner,
contrary to the wish of his rider; and, if he be successfully baffled,
three or four times, it is most probable that he will not renew his
endeavours.
On the same principle, when a horse refuses to advance, and whipping
would increase his obstinacy, or make him rear, or bolt away in a
different direction, it is advisable to make him walk backward, until he
evinces a willingness to advance.
A runaway might, in many instances, be cured of his vice by being
suffered to gallop, unchecked, and being urged forward, when he shewed
an inclination to abate his speed, rather than by attempting to pull him
in: but this remedy is, in most situations, dangerous, even for men; and
all other means should be tried before it is resorted to by a lady.
Should our fair young reader have the misfortune to be mounted on a
runaway, she may avoid evil consequences, if she can contrive to retain
her self-possession, and act as we are about to direct. She must
endeavour to maintain her seat, at all hazards, and to preserve the best
balance, or position of body, to carry her defences into operation. The
least symptom of alarm, on her part, will increase the terror or
determination of the horse. A dead heavy pull at the bridle will rather
aid him, than otherwise, in his speed, and prevent her from having
sufficient mastery over his mouth and her own hands to guide him. She
must, therefore, hold the reins in such a manner as to keep the horse
_together_ when at the height of his pace, and to guide him from running
against anything in his course; and, it is most probable that he will
soon abate his speed, and gradually subside into a moderate pace.
_Sawing_ the mouth (that is, pulling each rein alternately) will
frequently bring a horse up, in a few minutes. Slackening the reins for
an instant, and then jerking them with force, may also produce a similar
effect: but, if the latter mode be adopted, the rider must take care
that the horse, by stopping suddenly, do not bring her on his neck, or
throw her over his head.
In whatever manner the runaway be stopped, it is advisable for the lady
to be on the alert, lest he should become so disunited, by the
operation, as to fall.
Our readers may think, perhaps, that this advice, however easy to give,
is difficult to follow: we beg leave, however, to tell them, that
although it is not so easy as drawing on a glove, or replacing a stray
curl, it is much more practicable than they may imagine; though, we
trust, they may never have occasion to put it to the proof.
There is another situation, in which it is advisable to force the horse,
apparently, to have his own way, in order to baffle his attempts.
Restive horses, or even docile animals, when put out of temper,
sometimes endeavour to crush their riders' legs against walls, gates,
trees, posts, &c. An inexperienced lady, under such circumstances, would
strive to pull the horse away; but her exertions would be unavailing:
the animal would feel that he could master the opposition, and thus
discovering the rider's weakness, turn it to her disadvantage on future
occasions. We cannot too often repeat, that, although a rider should not
desist until she have subdued her horse, she must never enter into an
open, undisguised contest with him. It is useless to attack him on a
point which he is resolute in defending: the assault should rather be
directed to his weaker side. If he fortify himself in one place, he must
proportionately diminish his powers of defence in another. He
anticipates and prepares to resist any attempt to overcome him on his
strong side; and his astonishment at being attacked on the other, and
with success, on account of his weakness in that quarter, goes far to
dishearten and subdue him. If he plant himself in a position of
resistance against being forced to advance, it is a matter of very
little difficulty to make him go back. If he appear to be determined not
to go to the right, the rider may, on account of the mode in which he
disposes his body and limbs, turn him, with great facility, to the left.
If he stand _stock-still_, and will not move in any direction, his crime
may be made his punishment: the rider, in such case, should sit
patiently until he shew a disposition to advance, which he probably will
in a very short time, when he discovers that she is not annoyed by his
standing still. Nothing will subdue a horse so soon as this mode of
turning his attacks against himself, and making his defences appear acts
of obedience to the rider's inclination. When, therefore, a horse
viciously runs on one side towards a wall, pull his head forcibly in the
same direction and, if, by the aid of the leg or whip, you can drive his
croup out, you may succeed in backing him completely away from it. It is
by no means improbable, that when he finds that his rider is inclined to
go to the wall as well as himself, he will desist. Should he not, his
croup may be so turned, outward, that he cannot do his rider any
mischief.
In shying, the same principle may be acted upon, more advantageously,
perhaps, than in any other case. Should the lady's horse be alarmed at
any object, and, instead of going up to, or passing it, turn round, the
rider should manage him as we have recommended in cases where the horse
turns, through restiveness. He should then be soothed and encouraged,
rather than urged by correction, to approach, or pass, the object that
alarms him: to attempt to force him up to it would be ridiculous and
dangerous. If the horse swerve from an object, and try to pass it at a
brisk rate, it is useless to pull him towards it; for, if you succeed in
bringing his head on one side, his croup will be turned outward, and
his legs work in an opposite direction. This resistance will increase
proportionately to the exertions made by the rider. A horse, in this
manner, may fly from imaginary, into real danger; for he cannot see
where he is going, nor what he may run against. Pulling in the rein,
therefore, on the side from which the horse shies, is improper; it
should rather be slackened, and the horse's head turned away from the
object which terrifies him. By this mode, a triple advantage is gained:
in the first place, the horse's attention is diverted to other things;
secondly,--the dreaded object loses half its terror when he finds no
intention manifested on the rider's part to force him nearer to it; and,
lastly,--he is enabled to see, and, consequently, avoid any danger in
front, or on the other side of him.
A horse may be coaxed and encouraged to go up to the object that alarms
him; and, if the rider succeed in making him approach it, a beneficial
effect will be produced: the horse will discover that his fears were
groundless, and be less likely to start again from any similar cause.
After the first impulse of terror has subsided, the animal, if properly
managed, will even manifest an inclination to approach and examine the
object that alarmed him: but, while he is so doing, the rider must be on
her guard; for the least movement, or timidity, on her part,--the
rustling of a leaf, or the passing of a shadow,--will, in all
probability, frighten him again, and he will start round more violently
than before. After this, it will be exceedingly difficult to bring him
up to the object. Astley, however, whom we have before quoted, says,
that should the first trial prove unsuccessful, it must be repeated,
until you succeed; adding, that the second attempt should not be made
until the horse's fears have subsided, and his confidence returned.
A horse that is rather shy, may, in many cases, be prevented from
starting, by the rider turning his head a little away from those
objects, which, she knows by experience, are likely to alarm him, as
well before she approaches as while she passes them.
A lady, certainly, should not ride a horse addicted to shying,
stumbling, rearing, or any other vice: but she ought, nevertheless, to
be prepared against the occurrence of either; for, however careful and
judicious those persons, by whom her horse is selected, may be, and
however long a trial she may have had of his temper and merits, she
cannot be sure, when she takes the reins, that she may not have to use
her defences against rearing or kicking, or be required to exercise her
skill to save herself from the dangers attendant on starting or
stumbling, before she dismounts. The quietest horse may exhibit symptoms
of vice, even without any apparent cause, after many years of good
behaviour; the best-tempered are not immaculate, nor the surest-footed
infallible: it is wise, therefore, to be prepared.
Stumbling is not merely unpleasant, but dangerous. To ride a horse that
is apt to trip, is like dwelling in a ruin: we cannot be comfortable if
we feel that we are unsafe; and, truly, there is no safety on the back
of a stumbling nag. The best advice we can offer our reader, as to such
an animal, is never to ride him after his demerits are discovered:
although the best horse in the world, may, we must confess, make a false
step, and even break his knees.
When a horse trips, his head should be raised and supported, by
elevating the hand; and the lady should instantly throw herself back, so
as to relieve his shoulders from her weight. It is useless to whip a
horse after stumbling (as it is, also, after shying); for, it is clear,
he would not run the risk of breaking his knees, or his nose, if he
could help it. If a horse be constantly punished for stumbling, the
moment he has recovered from a false step, he will start forward,
flurried and disunited, in fear of the whip, and not only put the rider
to inconvenience, but run the risk of a repetition of his mishap, before
he regains his self-possession. It being generally the practice,--and a
very bad practice it is,--for riders to correct horses after having made
a false step, an habitual stumbler may be easily detected. When a horse,
that is tolerably safe, makes a false step, he gathers himself up, and
is slightly animated for a moment or two only, or goes on as if nothing
had happened; but if he be an old offender, he will remember the
punishment he has repeatedly received immediately after a stumble, and
dash forward in the manner we have described, expecting the usual
flagellation for his misfortune.
When a horse evinces any disposition to kick, or rear, the reins should
be separated, and held by both hands, in the manner we have described in
a previous page. This should also be done when he attempts to run away,
grows restive, or shies. The body should also be put in its proper
balance for performing the defences: the shoulders should be thrown
back, the waist brought forward, and the head well poised on the neck.
Every part of the frame must be flexible, but perfectly ready for
action.
[Illustration]
The principal danger attendant on the horse's rearing is, that the rider
may fall over the croup, and, perhaps, pull the horse backward upon her.
To prevent either of these consequences, immediately that a horse
rises, slacken the reins, and bend the body forward, so as to throw its
weight on his shoulders; and the moment his fore-feet come to the
ground,--having recovered your position, gradually, as he
descends,--correct him smartly, if he will bear it; or, endeavour to
pull him round two or three times, and thus divert him from his object.
The latter course may also be adopted to prevent his rearing, if the
rider should foresee his intention.
A horse that displays any symptoms of kicking, should be held tight in
hand. While his head is well kept up, he cannot do much mischief with
his heels.
[Illustration]
If, however, when the rider is unprepared, in spite of her exertions he
should get his head down, she must endeavour, by means of the reins, to
prevent the animal from throwing himself; and also, by a proper
inclination of her body backward, to save herself from being thrown
forward. Should an opportunity occur, she must endeavour to give him two
or three sharp turns: this may also be done, with advantage, if she
detect any incipient attempts in the animal to kick.
A horse inclined to rear seldom kicks much: but he may do both
alternately; and the rider should be prepared against his attempts, by
keeping her balance in readiness for either of the opponent defences.
She must also take care, that, while she is holding her horse's head up
and well in hand to keep him from kicking, she do not cause him to rear,
by too great a degree of pressure on his mouth.
[Illustration]