176 STABLE VICES 



and bite almost simultaneously, until they are tied 

 up closer to the rack, and handled firmly, and 

 brushed harder, until groom and horse are en- 

 gaged in a very noisy and dangerous fight. 



To thwart this habit of biting viciously when 

 they are being groomed, it is a good plan to put a 

 larsfe wooden bit in their mouths. In some cases 

 it will stop this unpleasant vice. 



A "twitch " is a stable instrument of torture which 

 is often much abused. It is usually too short, and 

 should be made out of a stout pole at least six 

 feet long, with a soft piece of cord passing through 

 a hole bored at one end of the stick. Tempor- 

 arily a horse can be subdued through having a 

 twitch put upon his nose, which is held high up 

 in the air. But the pain which a twitch severely 

 applied always causes to a horse's very sensi- 

 tive nose, makes the animal inclined to be vicious. 

 And the less a twitch is used — excepting in very 

 exceptional cases — the better. 



It is always a kind plan to take a twitch off 

 very gradually, and to gently rub the horse's nose 

 soothingly directly afterwards, pat his neck, and 

 make him feel on good terms with himself and 

 yourself. Induce your late patient to realise that 

 you are not angry with him, and have no inten- 

 tion to cause needless pain ; in fact quite the 

 contrary. Many horses, being very affectionate, 

 soon understand this, and return your caress by 

 rubbing their poor sore nose against your hand, 

 arm, or face, making you feel quite ashamed of 

 putting them to pain in the present or doing so 

 in the near future. 



