The principal danger and inconvenience attendant upon vice in a horse, consists in the difficulty of approaching, securing, handling, or dressing him. The situations in which the vicious animal is found require to bo considered separately—viz., in the stable, fastened to the manger, saddled, harnessed, or naked, and at liberty. Before approaching any horse, it is necessary to form some sort of judgment of his moral character, and this will be gathered from his physiognomy and gesture, with far more certainty than from the reports of those about him.

If the eyes be wild and threatening, if rapid glances be thrown around, if the ears be thrown backward and the tail slightly moved,—be cautious not only how you approach, but how you quit him. If you approach a horse in the stable, never do so abruptly, but first speak to him firmly but gently, and order him to “bout,” or “come over.” If he obey, and move to one side, you may approach up close to his shoulder, taking the halter in your hand the moment you arrive there.

If his head be then kept down, he can do no mischief, especially if the right hand be laid on the horse’s shoulder, and the body extended so as to keep at a sufficient distance from the forelegs. While thus held, the horse may be barnacled, blinded, muzzled, hobbled, or, in short, done anything with you please. If a vicious horse have his eyes bandaged, and be rapidly turned round a few times, he will become passive, and this plan has succeeded where all other means have failed. Never approach a horse on the right side; it is from this side he kicks.