BITING. 205 



with a cold collar ; but when the collar has acquired the warmth 

 of the parts upon which it presses, he will go without reluc- 

 tance. Some determined baulkers have been reformed by 

 constantly wearing a false collar, or strip of cloth around the 

 shoulders, so that the coldness of the usual collar should never 

 be felt ; and others have been cured by keeping the collar on 

 night and day, for the animal is not able to lie down completely 

 at full length, which the tired horse is always glad to do. When 

 a horse baulks, not at starting, but while doing his work, it has 

 sometimes been found useful to line the collar with cloth in- 

 stead of leather ; the perspiration is readily absorbed, the sub- 

 stance pressing upon the shoulder is softer, and it may be far 

 more accurately eased oflf at a tender place. 



BITING. 



This is either the consequence of natural ferocity, or a habit 

 acquired from the foolish and teasing play of grooms and 

 stable-boys. When a horse is tickled and pinched by thought- 

 less and mischievous youths, he will at first pretend to bite his 

 tormentors; by degrees he will proceed further, and actually 

 bite them, and very soon after that he will then be the first 

 to challenge to the combat, and without provocation will seize 

 the first opportunity to grip the careless teaser. At length, 

 as the love of mischief is a propensity too easily acquired, this 

 war, half playful and half in earnest, becomes habitual to him, 

 and degenerates into absolute viciousness. 



It is seldom that any thing can be done in the way of cure. 

 Kindness will aggravate the evil, and no degree of severity will 

 correct it. Biters have been punished until they have trembled 

 in every joint, and were ready to drop, but this treatment 



