238 THE HORSE 



besides being racked up, may be muzzled whilst being 

 dressed, or wear a sword attached to a roller ; or the old 

 gipsy plan may be used of making a slip-knot in a 

 length of whip-cord, and passing this over the jaw, care 

 being taken that it goes under the tongue, which otherwise 

 might be almost cut in two by the cord. The other end 

 must then be brought round the neck, and either held in the 

 hand or fastened to the loop with a slip-bow, thus making 

 two reins. This contrivance is very severe when pulled 

 upon, and in former days was often used by gipsies at a fair, 

 who w'ould not hesitate to jump on a bare-backed horse and 

 ride it away, their only bridle being a piece of cord thus 

 placed in the steed's mouth ; but as a rule it will generally 

 be found after a very short time that the lad will find it 

 quite sufficient if he carries a switch in his disengaged 

 hand, or even hangs it up within sight of the animal and 

 within easy reach. 



Sometimes an animal takes to violently knocking with 

 his fore-foot against the manger or door, or gets his leg over 

 the head-rope — a common trick if the ring through which it 

 works is too near the ground — but an efficient remedy for all 

 these cases is to buckle padded leather straps round each 

 fetlock, connected together by a chain about a foot long, 

 having a swivel in the centre. Though he can get up and 

 lie down, and move about with ease under such circum- 

 stances, he can no longer indulge in his tricks, and after 

 a while will very probably cease to attempt them 

 altogether. 



There are many plans for endeavouring to stop the habit of 

 kicking in the stable, but it can hardly be said that there is 

 one sovereign remedy, for what will answer with one horse 

 may fail with another, and though a plan may be found which 

 seems to have a due effect, after a time the horse may 

 recommence the malpractice. A short chain is often 

 strapped to one or both hind-legs, which inflicts a sharp 

 blow when kicking is indulged in, and thus the animal 

 punishes itself ; and with the same idea in view a bundle 

 of gorse is tied up behind the stall ; or a sheaf of straw, 

 occasionally soaked thoroughly wet to give it greater 



