CRIB-BITING. 143 



stomach, as the horse cannot vomit, while others com- 

 pare it to the human belch. It is almost impossible to 

 C7ire a crib-biter; the only thing that can be done is, 

 to palliate and prevent it, which is essential, as the 

 habit is not only injurious to the horse himself, but one 

 that, strange to say, is most readily imitated by his 

 companions ; in whatever stable such an animal may 

 be, the others are liable to become crib-biters. 



By leaving a lump of rock-salt in horses' mangers 

 many ailments may be averted. Licking it is a re- 

 source to them in their hours of solitary confinement. 

 In the present instance a lump of chalk might be 

 added, for the animal to amuse himself at any moment 

 that he is left without a muzzle (which should be made 

 for him by an experienced saddler, and constantly 

 used). The chalk being essentially antacid, is de- 

 cidedly useful if the habit is supposed to result from 

 acidity. 



As the muzzle should not be left off for any length 

 of time, the food should be prepared to be taken up 

 in the most rapid form — viz., a small quantity of chaff 

 to bruised oats. When the beast finds by experience 

 that his feeding time is limited, with starvation for the 

 alternative, he will probably prefer his food to gnawing 

 the iron during the short space allowed him without 

 his muzzle. A simple remedy sometimes used with 

 good effect is, keeping a tightened strap round the 

 creature's neck when he is not feeding ; and I have 

 known the covering of every jDortion of the stall within 

 his reach with rabbit or sheep skins, the hair outside, 

 to effectually check a crib-biter for the time being, the 

 habit being resumed, however, on his removal to an- 

 other stall. 



