VICES AND UNSOUNDNESS OF THE HORSE. 553 



fettered attempts to kick, the motion of his hind legs will 

 bring such a strain on the rope, and hurt his tail and the 

 skin of his belly so much, that he will be deterred from an 

 exercise that costs him so dearly. 



BITING. 



This vicious habit generally arises from a natural disposi- 

 tion to ferocity, but is made worse by the meanness of boys 

 and stable attendants. Few horses would ever become biters 

 were it not for the annoyances to which they have been sub- 

 ject, and some horses can scarcely be induced to bite. Bit- 

 ing horses are very vexing, and often dangerous. It is im- 

 possible to enter their stall with safety, or to curry, saddle, 

 harness, or even feed them without fear of mischief. The 

 biter's worst fault is, that he gives no warning of his inten- 

 tion. He appears as docile and quiet as usual, but as soon 

 as the incautious person approaches within his reach, he 

 seizes him with his teeth, often inflicting serious injury. 



A biting stallion is an exceedingly dangerous auimal; he 

 not only bites, but is apt to strike with his fore-feet. A 

 gentleman in Middle Tennessee, who owned a very valuable 

 stallion that was in the habit of biting, went to the stable, 

 one evening, to feed him, but as he did not return, his fam- 

 ily, going to look for him, found him dead under the horse's 

 feet. 



There is no cure for this propensity, except to knock out 

 one of the front teeth of the vicious animal every time he 

 bites a person. This is a dreadful remedy, but it is better 

 than to be continually in danger. It is an eflectual remedy. 

 Few horses will need to have more than two teeth removed — 

 one above and one below. 



Professor Stewart, in his "Stable Economy," pronounces 

 the worst form of biting to be a " species of insanity." 



The habit of biting can be remedied or prevented in the 

 colt, and it is the interest and duty of every horse -owner to 

 see that it is remedied or prevented. It is of no use to pun- 

 ish the colt for this or any other bad habit. Kindness will 



