Tiir: HOUSE. 69 



turning, like that of the kangaroo, or the gray 

 hound ; and if this is true, as its action when run- 

 ning plainly indicates, cavalry horses and racers must 

 lose a great deal of their natural power by docking. 

 In addition to the manifest cruelty and absurdity of 

 docking, it must be remembered that the operation 

 very frequently induces lockjaw and death. But 

 when docking is determined on, it should be done 

 when the colt is but two or three months old, as 

 at that early age it is less difficult, and accomplished 

 with less danger than when the operation is delayed 

 to a later period. 



NICKING. 



This operation is very justly getting into disre- 

 pute. Its object is to make the horse elevate his 

 tail. Two or three deep incisions are made on the 

 lower surface of the tail, the muscles by which it is 

 depressed are divided, and. a portion of them ex- 

 cised. The wounds are kept open for several days, 

 and the tail is kept in elevation by means of pulleys 

 and weights ; but a better method of obtaining the 

 same result is by using the pulleys and weights 

 alone. 



DRESSING THE TAIL. 



It was once the custom to colour the tails and 

 manes of horses, and red was a very fashionable 

 tint ; but this practice has been abandoned. The 

 hair of the tail is usually combed and brushed every 

 day ; and when it does not hang gracefully, frequent 

 washings and combings will have a good effect. But 

 if an exuberant tail is wanted, it should have but 

 very little combing. Circus riders never, or rarely, 

 make use of the comb. 



