KICKING. 255 



be loose enough to allow the animal to lie down 

 and get up. I have seen it recommended, in such 

 cases, to hang some soft object, such as a large bag 

 filled with hay, behind the animal, so that, when he 

 kicked, it would give to the stroke, and would then 

 swing back and hit him, without hurting him ; the 

 effect being that the horse would get tired of kicking 

 the inoffensive object, and would, accordingly, drop 

 the habit. If this method be adopted, I would 

 suggest that the animal should, before being left for 

 the night, be accustomed to the stuffed bag, or 

 whatever else is used, touching him. Tying up one 

 fore-leg, or applying the rope-twitch, will keep him 

 quiet while this is being done. I take for granted 

 that he has been, previously, made thoroughly 

 docile, with the exception of this particular vice. 

 The strait-jacket, loosely put on, would, I have no 

 doubt, prevent the kicking. If it was properly 

 applied, and, gradually let out, say, a hole or two, 

 each night, it would, in all probability, break the 

 horse of the habit. 



