VICES.
The word vice, is used to signify those actions which arise from a perverse, or mischievous disposition—those, in which the horse opposes his own will, to that of his rider, or those in which he purposely attempts to injure other horses, or the persons about him. A lady certainly should not ride any horse, that is addicted to shying, stumbling, rearing, or any other kind of vice; but she ought nevertheless, to be prepared against their occurrence; 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, even with the best tempered horse, that she may not have to exercise her skill, to save herself from danger; she should therefore, be prepared against frailty, or accident.
When a horse resists, or suddenly becomes uneasy in his gait, instead of punishing the animal; the bridle, saddle, girths, &c., should be examined, to ascertain the cause, and remedy it. For want of this necessary precaution, the poor animal is often used ill, without reason, and being forced into despair, is in a manner obliged to act accordingly, be his temper and inclination ever so good.
Weakness frequently drives horses into being vicious, when any thing beyond their strength is required of them: great care should therefore be taken, to ascertain from what cause the opposition arises.
Resistance in horses, is often a mark of strength and vigour, and proceeds from high spirits, but punishment would turn it into vice; a timorous rider, or a passionate person, would alike spoil the horse; the former, by suffering him to have his own will, establishes bad habits, and creates new ones; for horses find out many ways, and means of opposing what is demanded to them; many will imperceptibly gain a little every day on their riders; the lady must however always treat the horse kindly, at the same time show him that she does not fear him. The other, from want of reason, and temper, enrages the horse, and causes him to become vicious. Horses of a bad disposition or temper, are exceedingly subtle, and watch their opportunity; they first, as it were, feel for their rider’s firmness of seat, and her resolution, and are sure to defend themselves upon that point, on which they expect she will attack them; now, the object of the lady in this contest must be, to frustrate the horse’s intentions, and protect herself from injury in the struggle.
Some horses have a vicious habit of turning round suddenly; instead of endeavouring to prevent him, in which the lady would in all probability be foiled, were she to try to do so by force; the better plan is, to turn the horse smartly round to the side to which he is turning, 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, on the lady attempting to urge him forward, repeat the trick; she should pull him round on the same side three or four times, and assist the hand in doing so, 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 the body, towards the centre of the circle which is described by the horse’s head in his revolution. The same plan may be pursued, when the horse endeavors 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 attempts.
When a horse refuses to advance, and probably whipping would increase his obstinacy, or make him rear, or bolt away in an opposite direction, it is advisable, on the same principle, to make him walk backwards, until he evinces a willingness to advance: should the rider not mind her horse giving a kick or two, a couple of smart cuts over the croup, will generally prove successful.
Should a horse back into difficulties; he must be turned with his head towards the danger, and then backed off, until there be sufficient room to handle him.
Restive horses, and even docile animals when put out of temper, sometimes rear up against a wall or a carriage; an inexperienced rider, in such a situation, would strive to pull his head from the wall, which would bring her knee in contact with it, consequently, all further chastisement thereupon ceases; for were the rider to make her horse plunge, her legs would be crushed against the wall, the horse discovering the rider’s weakness, and that punishment had ceased; would turn it to her disadvantage, and on future occasions fly to the wall for shelter. Instead of from the wall. The horse’s head should be pulled towards it, so as to place his eye, in place of his rider’s knee, against it. She should use her leg, and whip, to force the croup out, when the horse can be easily backed off, and he will never go near a wall again.
Some horses will stand stock still, if ladies have the patience to sit on their backs, and keep them in the same spot for a time, it is the most proper punishment for such an offence, and will surely cure that mode of defence.