should be observed, and the trigger pulled at the instant the horse rises. The surest direction to fire at the gallop is, to the front and rear. The rider, however, can, with little practice, fire with considerable accuracy to the right and left front, or right and left rear. When firing at an object over the horse's left shoulder, to the rear over his croup, or near on the ground at either side, the arm should be extended. Before firing with ball-cartridge, the pistol should be loaded with blank cartridge and a wet wad, which will be sufficient to knock off a ball from a post at a distance of three or four yards. Firing to the left rear may be done either over or under the bridle arm: if under, the elbow should be slightly detached from the body without affecting the position of the bridle hand. As the rider will find it impracticable to draw sabre, after firing (being at a gallop), quick enough to take the heads and rings in his course, he may, previous to drawing pistol, place the sabre in the bridle hand diagonally across the horse's neck, edge to the front, and point to the left front, to enable him to grasp it immediately after returning, or securing the pistol under the bridle arm. The rider, to perfect himself in this practice, should gallop toward, and when within ten or fifteen paces of the object, turn immediately to the right or left about and fire at it over the horse's croup. Also to fire at an object in the leap. (See Plate XXVII.) (See Plate XXVI.) CHAPTER V. SECTION I-On the Vices of the Horse. As resistance in horses proceeds from spirit and vice, mal-formation, mal-treatment, or an improper adjustment of the equipments, the rider, before mounting one of this character, should examine minutely every portion of the bridle and saddle affecting him. The vices to which some horses are addicted, are restiveness, shying, plunging, bolting, rearing, kicking, &c. We will examine them severally, and give, as far as practicable, a remedy. Restiveness in a horse consists in turning round and round, moving backward and forward, standing stockstill, and sidling or passaging contrary to the will of the rider. It is frequently caused by bad management on the part of the rider, mal-treatment, or an improper adjustment of the equipments. For example: if the bit touches and jars the tushes, it gives him pain or annoys him, and to relieve himself, he throws up his head or draws it to his breast, turns round and round, and, in fact, attempts almost everything to free himself. He likewise does the same when the bit is so high as to gag him, or the crook to touch the palate. If the saddle binds his shoulders too tightly, or rests upon the spine, he will crouch and sink under it, and if not immediately relieved, will become restive. |