PAWING 359 



at liberty, and a well-made bed will sometimes tempt 

 them to lie down. No means can be adopted to force 

 the animal to take rest by lying down. When it is 

 not possible to place him in a stable alone, an empty 

 box should be constructed so that he may be left for 

 the night unhaltered in it. I had a remarkably fine 

 draught-horse that never was known to lie down, and 

 yet he kept in good condition, and was not troubled 

 with swelling in the limbs : but this is a rare occur- 

 rence. He sometimes fell down on his knees while 

 asleep, but the groom always found him on his legs 

 before he could reach the stable, although his house 

 was next door. 



SLIPPING THE COLLAR. 



Some horses are very expert at getting out of their 

 collar, and range at large in the stable during the 

 night, which subjects them to the liability of being 

 kicked by their neighbours, besides keeping all the 

 others awake. To prevent this, the web of the 

 halter should be accurately fitted to the neck, and 

 made so as to slip only one way ; to this a strap must 

 be attached, so as to buckle round the neck, taking 

 care that it is not too tight. 



PAWING. 



This is a disagreeable and very bad habit, and 

 proceeds from an irritable temper. Bruised feet and 

 sprained legs too often proceed from it. The shoes 

 are quickly worn down in front, and the litter consider- 

 ably wasted. The only remedy for this is the use 

 of shackles, to which should be attached a chain 

 sufficiently long to allow the horse to shift his posture 

 arid move about in his stall. These to be used only 



