MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 47 



The most common ones are : 



Weaving, windsncking, cribbing, biting, kicking against the stall, 

 gnawing the woodwork, eating dung, greedy feeding, tearing blankets, 

 and halter pulling. Most of these when once acquired are incurable, 

 but they may be partially or wholly prevented temporarily at least. 



Weaving: A nervous habit in which the animal rocks to and fro 

 continually, similar to a bear kept in confinement. Such animals 

 should be kept tied short and out of sight of other animals which might 

 contract the habit. Weaving is incurable. 



Windsucking and Cribbing: Nervous habits, closely related. In 

 windsucking an animal swallows air by arching the neck, drawing the 

 head towards the chest and giving a gulp. The cribber or crib biter 

 accomplishes the same end by catching hold of the manger with his 

 teeth to obtain a pull, and as he gulps emits a grunt. Both of these 

 vices are incurable and are apt to be acquired by other horses stabled- 

 nearby. They may be prevented by the use of a broad strap fitted 

 tightly around the neck with a small wooden or leaden gullet plate 

 stitched on so that it projects on each side and sticks into the throat 

 when the neck is bent. Another method which often succeeds is to 

 buckle a narrow leather strap around the neck rather tightly. Neither 

 of these will efifect a cure, only a temporary prevention. 



Cribbers always show by the wear on their incisors the effects of 

 the habit. Indigestion and colic frequently result from these vices. 



Biting: Biting is a vicious habit seen most frequently in stallions. 

 It is usually the result of animals being teased by men in a playful 

 way, but once acquired, a dangerous vice. As a preventative, the 

 teasing must be stopped, and if an animal is dangerous only one man 

 should handle him, his regular groom who must be unafraid of him. 

 The danger may be lessened by the ''use of a leather muzzle, or a 

 thick wooden bit, or a side stick. The side stick is a short stick attached 

 at ends to the headstall and surcingle. 



Kicking Against the Stall: Kicking against the stall is a habit 

 usually acquired through lack of w^ork. Animals with the habit are apt 

 to injure themselves and others. The danger of injury may be lessened 

 by padding the stalls and providing kicking boards. It may be cured 

 by using a short chain, one end of which is attached to a hobble place 

 around one rear pastern, the other end attached to a small wooden ball. 



Gnawing the Woodwork : Gnawing the woodwork is a restless habit 

 of animals kept tied up without work, or when deprived of hay. The 

 cure is plenty of hay. The prevention is to wrap the woodwork with 

 wire or cover it with tin. When used the wire or tin must be watched 

 carefully to guard against injury to animals from loose ends. 



Eating Dung: Eating dung is habitual with some animals and may 

 be classed as a vice. It is a morbid appetite resulting from poor con- 

 dition caused by chronic indigestion. Animals in fit condition seldom 

 form the habit. The only prevention is to keep the animal tied so that 

 he cannot reach his own or other animals' droppings. 



