86 The Diseases of Animals 



throws himself back on this a few times he will usually 

 cease. Another method is to tie one end of the small 

 rope about the tail in the form of a crupper, the other 

 end being passed through the halter ring and tied to a 

 post. In this case, when he pulls the force is exerted 

 upon his tail and he soon stops. 



PULLING ON THE BIT 



This is a bad habit and one difficult to remedy in 

 some cases. A horse that tugs on his bit continuously, 

 or even for a part of the time, cannot be driven with 

 any pleasure. This vice is often due to errors in break- 

 ing. In driving a horse that pulls on the bit, the more 

 the driver tries to hold him, the more he pulls, espe- 

 cially if he gets nervous and irritated. A harsh bit that 

 hurts his mouth is likely to increase the irritation. 



In dealing with a horse that pulls on the bit, it is 

 usually a good plan to use as easy a bit as possible, as 

 some of the flexible leather -covered bits. Then try to 

 teach the horse that it is not necessary to pull on the bit 

 as he travels. When he begins to pull on the bit, allow 

 him to go without trying to hold him, never allowing 

 him, however, to get beyond the control of the driver. 

 When the horse finds that no one is trying to hold him 

 he will often give up pulling. Some cases can be stopped 

 by tying the pulling horse to his mate. 



There is also a device of flexible steel, commonly 

 called a "controller," that is very effective on some 

 horses that pull on the bit. This "controller" is applied 

 over the nose and is attached to the reins so that it 

 does not injure the horse's mouth. 



