VICES IN THE STABLE. 



535 



IV. Kicking while Eating Grain. 



This is another outgrowth of continued idleness, in connection with a 

 nervous disposition. The horse, while eating his grain, will kick the side 

 of the stall, sometimes as often as four or five times a minute. This he 

 usually does with one foot, but sometimes wdth both, — first one and then 

 the other. 



What to do. — A piece of chain, a foot or so in length and tied to the 

 pastern of the foot used, will sometimes prove effectual. Another plan 

 which usually answers the purpose, is to run a small rope from the bit 

 through a collar and surcingle to the foot. Or, a small bit may be used, 

 — one that will not interfere with the eating. Whipping is useless. 

 V. Wasting the Grain. 



This is a playful habit of taking up the grain into the mouth and sift- 

 inof it out atmin, tlirowino; it around much as a child would the bread and 

 butter of which he had too much. 

 As a rule, it shows that the horse 

 has too much grain and too lit- 

 tle exercise ; he is fed more than 

 he needs or can relish. A horse 

 will not do it till he is fat and 

 cloyed, except, perhaps, in occa- 

 sional instances of irregular or 

 decayed teeth. Treatment for 

 these exceptional cases is given in 

 the article on teeth. 



What to do.— The treatment 

 consists in removing the cause ; 

 give more work and less grain. 



Sometimes a hard-worked, ravenous horse will plunge his nose into a 

 mess of oats and throw half of them out, from sheer irritability of tem- 

 per. Treat him kindly, however ; place a large angular stone, the size of 

 a man's double fist, in the center of the manger, and put the oats in Avith 

 it, which will compel him to go about the matter more leisurely, and 

 prevent him from throwing the grain out. 



VI. Pulling Back, and Breaking the Halter. 



This very bad habit commonly originates from the horse getting fright- 

 ened, when, jumping suddenly back, he breaks the halter ; and as average 

 horse sense knows that a thing once done can be done again, the jerk 

 is repeated, in sportiveness or mischief, till it becomes a confirmed vice. 



What to do. — Have a very strong halter, and tie high on the manger, 

 which will give the horse less power to pull than when tied low. Some 



PLAYING WITH THE GRAIN. 



