378 CRIB-BITING. 



for these animals, as too often happens in sore-throat, would rathei 

 starve than put themselves to much pain. 



CRIB-BITING. 



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

 though riot so serious a one as some have represented. The horse 

 lays hold of the manger Avith his teeth, violently extends 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 eflbrt at simple eructation, arising from indiges- 

 tion. It is the inhalation of air. It is that which takes place 

 with all kinds of diet, and when the stomach is empty as well as 

 when it is full. 



The effects of crib-biting are plain enough. The teeth are in- 

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

 degree. A considerable quantity of grain 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 

 saliva escapes while the manger is thus forcibly held, the loss of 

 which must be of serious detriment in impairing the digestion. 

 The crib-biting horse is notoriously more subject to colic than 

 other horses, and to a species difficult of treatment 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 un- 

 soundness We must not look to the state of the disease at the 

 time of purchase. The question is, does it exist at all ? A case 

 was tried before Lord Tenterden, and thus decided ; "a horse 

 with crib-biting is unsound." 



It is one of those tricks which are exceedingly contagious. 

 Every companion of a crib-biter in the same stables is likely to 

 acquire the habit, and it is the most inveterate of all habits. 

 The edge of the manger will in vain be lined with iron, or with 

 sheej)-skin, or with sheep-skin covered with tar or aloes, or 

 any other unpleasant substance. In defiance of the annoyance 

 which these may occasion, the horse will persist in the attack on 

 his manger. A strap buckled tightly round the neck, by compress- 

 ing the wind-pipe, is the best means of preventing the possibility 

 of this trick ; but the strap must be constantly worn, and its 

 pressure is too apt to produce a worse affection, viz., an irritation 

 ai the windpipe, which terminates in roaring. 



Some have recommended turning out for five or six months ; 

 but this has never succeeded except with a young horse, and then 

 rarely. The old crib-biter will employ the gate for the same 



