214 GETTING CAST. 



and does not lead to colic, or to half the ill consequences usually 

 attributed to it. We have known an ardent crib-biter that never 

 had an attack of colic in his life. The habit may generally be 

 prevented by covering the edge of the manger, or any thing the 

 horse is in the habit of seizing, with sheep skin, with close short 

 wool on it, and well dusting the wool with cayenne pepper. 



EOLLING 



500. — Is not a bad, but a very good habit with the horse in 

 a state of nature, as it is nature's way to remove and deodorise the 

 excretions from the skin. But when practised in the stall, whilst 

 the horse is tied up, it is apt to get him into difficulties of several 

 kinds. Mischief is generally prevented by tying him moderately 

 short, and always to a weight that will draw in any slack rope 

 out of danger. If this does not prevent the horse getting cast 

 or entangled, he can be prevented from rolling at all, by tying 

 a small rope into a ring, sewn into the top of his halter, at the 

 poll, and bringing the rope over a pulley fixed just above his 

 head and carrying it on to another pulley fixed in the wall or 

 stall post. From this the rope should fall through a small hole 

 or staple, where it will be out of the way, and have a small weight 

 attached to it, at such a distance from the hole or staple, as will 

 allow the weight to rise high enough for the horse to reach the 

 ground with his muzzle, but not to lay his head flat, with his 

 ear on the ground, as he always does before rolling. Of course 

 a far better way when practicable is to give such a horse, or 

 indeed any horse, a loose box and not to tie him up at all. 



501. — Rushing through a stable door, so as to strike 

 his hips or sides violently against the door posts, is a habit 

 that a nervous horse soon picks up, and which will get worse 

 every time he hurts himself at it. When a young horse is first 

 harnessed, or whilst little accustomed to stable doors, he should 

 always be led through them without blinkers, which are the 

 cause of the mischief. If this cannot conveniently be done, he 

 may be backed through the door ways with the blinkers on. 



FEAR OF BIT. 



502. — When a bridle has been taken off a young horse 



