Some of which arise from fear and nervousness, and others from vice or from improper breaking. All vicious and nervous horses should be avoided by all who do not thoroughly understand them. Of these rearing is the most dangerous, as a fall over backwards often leads to fatal results to the rider. A horse may rear occasionally from fear, but it more generally proceeds from vice. Several plans and bits have been suggested to cure rearers, but all are attended with more or less danger to both horse and man. They are best left to rough-riders, and those who thoroughly understand the management of vicious horses, as nothing but time and work will cure them.

Kicking

Is another dangerous vicious habit. Like rearing, it may be cured by those who thoroughly understand horses; but even when perfectly quiet and manageable in their hands, such horses are never to be trusted with less experienced persons.

Running Away

Is another very dangerous fault. It may arise from vice or from the horse having been at some time very seriously alarmed. In the former case, a very sharp bit and great care may prevent it; but in the latter, when the horse again becomes alarmed, nothing will stop him, as he is for the time in a state of madness.

Bucking Or Plunging

Is another dangerous habit. Sometimes it arises from vice and sometimes only from freshness, the horse being above himself from want of work; in the latter case it is soon cured by putting him to daily steady work.

Jibbing

Either in saddle or harness is a very dangerous vice, and is always the result of bad temper. In saddle the horse rears, kicks, and rubs the rider against anything in his way. He will go anywhere and rush anywhere but in the direction in which he is wanted to go. A good thrashing will sometimes cure him, but it is not always easy to do it, as the horse invariably jibs in the most awkward and dangerous places in which to fight him. In harness the jibber will not start, he runs back, and if whipped or punished will plunge and throw himself down. Such animals are quite unfitted for private use.

Shying

This bad habit may arise from timidity, defective eyesight, or bad temper. If from timidity it can only be overcome by gentle usage and allowing the horse to pass the object without taking any notice of his fear beyond patting and encouraging him; to chastise him is worse than useless and senseless. If it arise from defective vision, it will be incurable, as it will be impossible for the animal to see objects otherwise than through a distorted medium. If it arise from vice, which is frequently the case, the horse must be made firmly but temperately to pass the object at which he shies; having passed it, continue the ride, do not return and pass it again and again, as that only irritates him, and when he finds he is mastered, he will daily improve.

Most of the above defects and vicious habits, if not absolutely caused by bad and injudicious treatment and breaking, are often increased by it; nor is this to be wondered at, when we consider the class of men who are generally employed to break young horses, their roughness, ignorance, and often drunkenness. They break them all in the same way without any reference to their different and peculiar tempers and dispositions, whereas a little care and thought would check and frequently prevent faults and defects, which, in some cases, become incurable and highly dangerous, and render the horse comparatively unsaleable.

There are many other minor faults, too numerous to mention here, most of which are capable of cure, or, at any rate, of great amelioration in the hands of a good horseman or coachman, but the less experienced will do well to purchase only such horses as are steady and suitable for their work.