^ISi OVERREACHING. 



yond the control of the owner of the horse. It is often the 

 result of imitation ; but it is more frequently the consequence 

 of idleness. The high-fed and spirited horse must be in mis- 

 chief, if he is not usefully employed. Sometimes, but not often, 

 it is produced by partial starvation ; and another occasional 

 cause is the frequent custom of dressing the horse, even when 

 the weather is not severe, in the stable, — thus enabling the 

 animal to catch at the edge of the manger, or at that of the 

 partition on each side, if he has been turned. 



WIND-SUCKING. 



This closely resembles crib-biting, and arises from the same 

 causes ; the same purpose is accomplished, and the same results 

 follow. The horse stands with his back bent, his head drawn 

 Inward, his lips alternately slightly opened and then closed, and 

 a noise is heard as if he were sucking. It appears quite pro- 

 bable, judging from the same comparative want of condition 

 and the flatulence noted in connection with the last habit, that 

 either some portion of wind enters the stomach, or there is an 

 injurious loss of saliva. 



This vice diminishes the value of the animal nearly as much 

 as crib-biting ; it is equally as contagious and inveterate. The 

 only remedies — and they will seldom avail — are tying the head 

 up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on a muzzle 

 with sharp spikes toward the neck, which will prick him when- 

 ever he attempts to rein his head in for the purpose of wind- 

 sucking. 



OVERREACHING. 



This unpleasant noise known also by the name of " clicking," 

 is occasioned by the toe of the hind foot, or the inner edge of 



