STABLE VICES 133 



head, sometimes to the level of his knees, and 

 then swallows a mouthful of air." In doing this 

 he makes a peculiar noise, sometimes scarcely 

 perceptible, sometimes very loud. I do not 

 remember ever having seen a wind-sucker at 

 work, and indeed they are comparatively few in 

 number. 



The cure is a hollow bit which must be worn 

 always except at feeding time. The bit is per- 

 forated at the front and as the horse draws in the 

 air it escapes through the bit and so prevents him 

 getting a * mouthful.' It is essential to keep 

 this bit very clean and care must be taken every 

 time it is removed to see that all the holes are 

 well cleared out, as some of the remains of the 

 food may block them up. It is also necessary 

 that the horse should be closely watched at feeding 

 time and the bit put on immediately he has 

 finished feeding. Wind-sucking has a far more 

 prejudicial effect on a horse's health than crib- 

 biting. 



Weaving is a particularly irritating vice, and 

 it is disturbing to the other horses as well. It is 

 probably due to nervousness. A weaver con- 

 stantly moves his head from one side of the stall 

 to the other and at the same time he changes his 

 weight from one foreleg to the other. Of course 

 this constant movement and change of position 

 has a very bad effect upon the horse. Fortun- 

 ately the remedy is an easy one. Remove him 

 into a loose box. I do not remember ever 

 to have seen a horse ' weave ' in a loose box. 



