V(M,. XI. No. 2.55. 



THB AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



37 



LIVE STOCK. 



It will be seen then, that owners of horses, and more 

 especially of young horses, should endeavour to sui)ervise 

 personally the work of their grooms, with particular regard 

 to the prevention of cruelty and abuse, for it is certain that 

 by this means fewer horses would be ruined, and also that 

 not inconsiderable financial loss would be averted. 



JIBBING IN HORSES 



Jibbing is a vice of horses whi<h shows itself in continu 

 ous unwillingness of the animal to submit to control; the 

 horse is obstinate, and this consciously. It not only reduces 

 the animals usefulness, but constitutes a general danger. 

 The subject is dealt with, in a complete manner, in i'etrn'imri/ 

 Palliology, by Friedburger and Fmliner. We may distinguish 

 between absolute and relative jibbing. The former renders 

 the animal useless for all purposes, but the latter, which is 

 much commoner, affects only certain kinds of work, such as 

 rider's jibbing, carriage jibbing, jibbing in double harness. 

 The evil is commonest in marcs, and particularly in half-wild 

 breeds. 



The cause of jibbing is usually to be found in improper 

 or brutal treatment of the animal when being liroken in, or in 

 some senseless and cruel punishment, to which inttuences 

 high-spirited and well-bred animals are very susceptible. 

 Malicious teasing and irritation, as well as recovery from 

 painful skin-injuries, may also give rise to jibbing. Among 

 temporary causes, ruttishness in mares must be named. How- 

 far heredity or pathological conditions of the brain may con- 

 duce to jibbing is not well known. 



Jibbing may be partly active and partly passive, though 

 both are often combined. An active jibber may stand still 

 when at work, and offer resistance to all attempts to urge it 

 on. It behaves violently in some cases, and may do serious 

 damage to the carriage or occupants. Saddle-horses try to 

 throw their rider by bucking, or rearing, or may try to 

 knock him off against trees, walls, etc. Sometimes, they 

 throw themselves in their attempts to do so. At such times, 

 the horse shews great e.xcitement, a fiery eye, palpitation, 

 trembling, quickened breathing, and sweating. In rarer cases, 

 theie may be perfect mania, so that at last tin- animal is led 

 away half stupid, and utterly exhausted. Such animals are 

 usually good-tempered in the stable. 



In passive jibbing, the animal while at work suddenly 

 stops as thougli spellbound, backs into the harness, and stojis 

 the vehicle intentionally, and cannot by any means, kind or 

 severe, be got to move a step forward. It may attempt to 

 turn back. If allowed to remain quiet for some little time, 

 it will usually go on of its own accord. If not, it will pro- 

 bably need to be unharnessed, or allowed to return home. 



A horse must not be regarded as jibliing if it refuses to 

 work when put to unaccustomed or e.vcessive tasks, or because 

 of illness, or bodily pain such as arises from an uncomfortable 

 collar or badly-fitting harness. A crupper that is too tight is 

 a very common cause of kicking, and also of actual jibliiog. In 

 dealing with special cases, jibbing must not be ctnifused with 

 shying. 



Confirmed jibbers are incurable, l>ut in early cases, and 

 more particularly during the development of ihe vice, improve- 

 ment may be obtained by kind treatment and gentle handling, 

 and above all, by patience, but never by compulsion. In 

 general, it may be stated that jibbers are incurable, though 

 many horsemen have their own ideas and practices as regards 

 the matter. L'ase.s are known in which, for a time at least 

 a jibber may lay aside the vice, in well-acc iwtomed sur- 

 roundings. 



SOME NOTES ON THE MULE. 

 As is commonly recognized, the mule is probably the 

 most generally useful, as a working animal, among the 

 Equidae. It is capable of great endurance, tolerates thirst 

 well, and can put up with changes of housing, weather, and 

 food, about which it is not fastidious. The toughness of the 

 hide helps to preserve it from galls. 



ilules are usually contented, intelligent animals; and 

 while resenting violence, they appreciate proper handling. 

 They are particularly free kickers, are often shy with 

 strangers, and are sensitive in the region of the head; but with 

 attendants who understand them, they are by no means 

 troublesome, and are easy to look after and keep in condition. 

 Being a near relation of the horse, and with a digestive sys- 

 tem entirely similar, mules may be treated according to all 

 the general rules for the care of horses, and if equal attention 

 be paid to their stable management and feeding, they are 

 much easier to keep in condition when in hard work. In 

 the West Indies, the general rule is to pen mules, but the 

 better plan is to keep them in stalls, as by this the animals 

 are more likely to receive greater individual attention, and' 

 better care generally. 



In selecting a mule, the first con.sideration must be to 

 find the animal best suited to the purpose for which it is 

 required. The shape of the back, especially in pack mules 

 used for carrying cacao, is of sui)reme importance. It should 

 be straight from wither to croup, or inclined to be roach- 

 backed, rather than hollow. It should be short, well covered 

 with muscle, and broad and level on the top. A Ion" back 

 is a weak back, and if hollow and narrow, possesses the 

 worst shape. The body should be well ribbed ui>, and 

 not lacking in girth; while the chest should be deep and 

 broad between the .shoulders. The quarters should be well 

 developed and muscular. In the pack mule, the strength of 

 the quarters is of more importance than the shape of the fore- 

 hand. In moving up and down hill, this necessity for power- 

 ful quarters is apparent. The withers are naturally broad 

 and low and the shoulder looks upright; but the low 

 wither is not a disadvantage, and the mule is prover- 

 bially a sure stepper. The neck is .straight and short, and 

 should be strong and musculat-. The legs are slender, but 

 as long as they are short and clean, and straight in 

 front, no great amount of bone is necessary. Mules are 

 often cow-hocked behind, but if they are free from disease, 

 this defect is not a drawback. .Spavin, however, is a fairly 

 common cause of unfitnes.s, especially in hilly districts. Tin- 

 feet generally appear to be boxed in, but they are strong and 

 haid-wearing; the horn is tough, thick, and grows quickly. 

 As a rule, the feet are inclined to grow high at the hee;,.. 

 and this is a matter which requires frequent attention. 

 The age at which mules are fit for work is, as in the case of 

 the horse, four years: they are more suited for this at five, and 

 still more so at six, years of age. It is, ho\>ever, a common 

 practice to work them when three years old. The teeth of the 

 mule resemble those of thehor.se in most particulars, the main 

 difference being that those of the mule .ire narrower. The 

 age may be gauged by e.\-actly the same u.arks as are em-- 

 ployed in the case of the horse. 



