STUD BOOK. 161 



the case when horses of unequal appetite feed from the same 

 manger. Some horses, however, are naturally greedy feed- 

 ers, and will not, even when alone, allow themselves time to 

 chew or grind their corn. In consequence of this they carry 

 but little flesh, and are not equal to severe work. The 

 remedy is, not to let such horses fast too long. The nose- 

 bag should be the companion of every considerable journey. 

 The food should likewise be of such a nature that it cannot 

 be rapidly bolted. Chaff should should be plentifully mixed 

 with the corn, and, in some cases, and especially in horses of 

 slow work, it should, with the corn, constitute the whole of 

 the food. In eveiy case of this kind the teeth should be care- 

 fully examined. Some of them may be unduly lengthened, 

 particularly the first of the grinders; or they may be ragged 

 at the edges, and may abrade and wound the cheek; these 

 animals, as too often happens in sore throat, would rather 

 starve than put themselves to much pain. 



CKEB-BITING. 



This is a very unpleasant habit, and a considerable defect, 

 although not so serious a one as some have represented. The 

 horse lays hold of the manger with his teeth, violently ex- 

 tends his neck, and then, after some convulsive action of the 

 throat, a slight grunting is heard, accompanied by a sucking 

 or drawing in of air. It is not an effort at simple eructation, 

 arising from indigestion. It is the inhalation of air. The ef- 

 fects of crib-biting are plain enough. The teeth are injured 

 and worn away, and that, in an old horse to a very serious 

 degree. A considerable quantity of corn is often lost, for the 

 horse will frequently crib with his mouth full of it, and the 

 greater part will fall over the edge of the manger. Much sa- 

 liva escapes while the manger is thus forcibly held, the loss 

 of which must be of serious detriment in impairing the di- 

 gestion. The crib-biting horse is notoriously more subject to 

 colic than other horses, and to a species difficult of treat- 

 ment and frequently dangerous. Although many a crib-biter 

 is stout and strong, and capable of all ordinary work, these 

 horses do not generally carry so much flesh as others, and 

 have not their endurance. On these accounts crib-biting has 

 very properly been decided to be unsoundness. It is one of 

 those tricks which are exceedingly contagious.. Every com- 

 panion of a crib-biter in the same stables is likely to acquire 

 the habit, and it is the most inveterate of all habits. In de- 

 fiance of the annoyance which these may occasion, the horse 



