268 



Outdoor Vices and Whims 



we may gently lower the line on either side, and 

 gradually accustom the animal's hind quarters to 

 the slight pressure of the lines, and eventually he will 

 cease switching his tail when the lines touch his 

 quarters. 



Tail over line. — Occasionally a horse will be met 

 with that becomes very much excited when he gets 

 his tail over the line. He clamps the line so firmly 



beneath his tail that it is freed 

 with great difficulty and often 

 not without injuring the tender 

 parts, which may provoke kick- 

 ing, backing or running away. 

 WTiile there are many causes 

 for this habit the two chief 

 ones are improper training, 

 particularly the cruppering, 

 and tender tail, the result of irritating sores pro- 

 duced by poorly fitting harness. The tight, dirty 

 crupper causes a sore tail and the line by some chance 

 gets under the tail and into the sore, causing the horse 

 much pain. This he remembers always and when 

 the line gets under the tail he thinks only of the pain 

 it once gave him, aiid hence the excitement. 



To overcome this habit, carefully pole the tail as 

 suggested in poling the work horse (p. 69) and in 

 overcoming kicking (p. 254). Do not rush through 

 the work, but give the horse sufficient time to become 

 familiar with the pressure of the pole. With the 



Fig. 80. — Hip-strap anti- 

 switching appliance. 



