292 



THE HORSE 



mares it is often of a sexual nature, and in them it is much more common 

 than in geldings, — the extent to which it is carried by them being generally 

 greatest at the beginning and end of their being " in use." At such times 

 some mares go almost mad, if they have an irritating neighbour, who keeps 

 smelling them, and I once had one who kicked herself to pieces in a 

 paroxysm of this kind, which nothing but tying up the fore-leg could 

 restrain. There are several remedies in common use, but none can be 

 relied on in all cases. Foremost among these is the use of gorse, nailed to the 

 stall-post, which Avill almost invariably quiet a low-bred animal, especially 

 if a gelding, but high-bred mai-es will sometimes kick at it all the more, for 

 the punishment they receive. A padded leather strap, buckled round the 

 cannon-bone, with a common sinker attached to it, or instead of this, a 

 few links of heavy chain, will generally keep the horse from kicking, 



BAR MUZZLE FOR CRIB-BITERS. 



because in making the attempt he gives his coronet and pastern a heavy 

 blow. If, however, this plan is unsuccessful, it is liable to cause lameness, 

 from the inllammation produced by the blows, and, therefore, the effect 

 must be carefully watched. Few horses kick out with both legs, and a 

 pair of hobbles buckled round the hind fetlocks will, in a vast majority of 

 cases, put an end to the trick as long as they are worn, without any risk, 

 or producing any serious annoyance, save only what is inseparably 

 connected with the prohibition of the indulgence in the desire to kick. A 

 narrow strap buckled round the part just above the hock, so. as to confine 

 the ham-string, will have the desired effect, by giving intense pain when 

 any attempt to strike out is made, but it is a most annoying infliction to the 

 horse, and generally prevents his lying down, from the necessity which 

 there is for bending the hock, in reaching the ground. I should, therefore, 

 give the preference to the bunch of gorse, or if that is not readily 

 procurable, to the sinker of wood or iron suspended to a strap round the leg. 

 In scratching the ear with the hind-foot, the horse is very apt to get 

 his leg over the collar-rein, if the sinker is not heavy enough to keep the 

 rein tightly strained between the head collar and the ring in the manger. 

 Impatient animals, also, which are continually pawing at their litter, will 



