BITING. 507 



then tlie taming and training system must be repeated several times a-day, 

 or until the horse has become perfectly tractable. 



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 thoughtless and mischievous youths he 

 will first pretend to bite his tormentors ; by degrees he will proceed farther, 

 and actually bite them, and, very soon after that, he will be the hrst to 

 challenge to the combat, and, without provocation, seize some opportunity 

 to gripe the incautious tormentor. At length, as the love of mischief is a 

 propensity too easily acquii-ed, this war, half playful and half m earnest, 

 becomes habitual to him, and degenerates into absolute viciousness. 



It is not possible to enter the stall of some horses without danger, i ho 

 animal gives no warning of his intention ; he is seemingly quiet and harm- 

 less • but if the incautious by-stander comes fairly withm his reach, ho 

 darts upon him, and seldom fails to do some mischief. A stalUon addicted 

 to biting is a most formidable creature. He lifts the intruder— he shakes 

 him— he attacks him ^^'ith his feet— he tramples upon him, and there are 

 many instances in which he effects in-eparable mischief. A resolute groom 

 may escape When he has once got firm hold of the head of the horse, he 

 m'ay back him, or muzzle him, or harness him ; but he must be always on 

 his guard or in a moment of carelessness he may be seriously mjured. 



It is seldom that anything can be done in the way of cure. Kindness 

 will ago-ravate the evil, and no degree of severity will correct it. ' Ihave 

 seen 'says Professor Stewart, in his ' Stable Economy,' ' biters pumshed 

 until they trembled in every joint, and were ready to drop, but have n^^er 

 in any case kno^vn them cured by this treatment, or by any other, ihe 

 lash is foro-otten in an hour, and the horse is as ready and determined to 

 repeat the^ofi"ence as before. He appears unable to resist the temptation, 

 and in its worst form biting is a species of insanity.' _ 



With a bitino- horse there should be no time lost m commencing and 

 continuing the laming and training system of Mr. Rarey. The operator 

 may nearly as soon as he has thromi the horse down, confine his treat- 

 ment to lifting the head, bringmg it close to his own body as he sits upon 

 the shoulder, and forcing both of the jaws into immediate and repeated 

 contact In the act of mounting care must be taken, that a strong strain 

 be made upon the off rein, so that the muzzle of the horse be well mchned 

 from the hmb or person of the rider. In approaching a bitmg colt m a 

 loose bos it will be quite necessary to be armed with a phable cuttmg whip 

 to use upon great emergency. The science of thi^omng the lasso would 

 prove invaluable in this instance. For safety, place the colt m a loose box 

 havino- the half-door open. Remain by the open door, but out ol reach 

 until 1;he cui'iosity of the animal be excited, and he approaches to smell 

 the open hand, then proceed to handle him in the gentlest manner. 



Prevention, however, is in the power of every proprietor of horses 

 While he insists on gentle and humane treatment of his cattle, he should 

 systematically forbid this horse-play. It is that which can never be con- 

 sidered as operating as a reward, and thereby rendermg the horse tractable; 

 nor does it increase the affection of the animal for his groom, because he 

 is annoyed and irritated by being thus incessantly teased 



GETTING THE CHEEK OF THE BIT INTO THE MOUTH. 



Some horses that are disposed to be mischievous try to do this, and are 

 very expert at it. They soon find what advantage it gives them over their 



