166 THE ORANGE COUNTY 



A known stumbler should never be ridden. A tight hand or 

 a strong-bearing rein are precautions that should not be ne- 

 glected, although they are generally of little avail; for the 

 inveterate stumbler will rarely be able to save himself, and 

 this tight rein may sooner and farther precipitate the rider. 

 If the stumbler has the foot kept as short and the toe pared 

 as close as safety will permit, and the shoe is rounded at the 

 toe, or has that shape given to it which it naturally acquires 

 in a fortnight from the peculiar action of such a horse, the 

 animal may not stumble quite so much, but in almost every 

 case a stumbler should be put to slow and heavy work. If 

 the latter alternative is adopted, he may trip as much as he 

 pleases, for the weight of the load and the motion of the 

 other horses will keep him upon his legs. 



WEAVING. 



This consists in a motion of the head, neck, and ooay, 

 from side to side, like the shuttle of a weaver passing through 

 the web, and hence the name which is given to this peculiar 

 and incessant and unpleasant action. It indicates an impa- 

 tient, irritable temper, and a dislike to the confinement of the 

 stable. A horse that is thus incessantly on the fret will sel- 

 dom carry flesh, or be safe to ride or drive. There is no cure 

 for it, but the close tying-up of the animal, or at least allowing 

 him but one loose rein, except at feeding-time. 



