Overcoming a Biter 293 



bruising him in many ways. As dealers do not 

 hesitate to put such animals on the market, es- 

 pecially when the vice is not very marked, it is a 

 good plan for the prospective purchaser to be on 

 his guard. Such a horse can usually be told by 

 the manner in which he sets back his ears, puckers 

 his nostrils, curls his lips, stretches out his head and 

 shows his teeth when any one passes within his 

 reach. Occasionally, however, such a horse ap- 

 pears very docile when in the care of his regular 

 groom, due no doubt to his being cowed by the 

 remembrance of past punishment or the fear of a 

 future one. 



When the horse is troubled only mildly, simply 

 nipping now and then, the habit can be overcome by 

 the use of the pulley bridle (p. 193). Place this on 

 him and when he attempts to nip, punish him se- 

 verely with the bridle. Tempt him to nip and 

 then punish him if he does. Soon he will asso- 

 ciate the punishment with nipping, and will cease. 

 To keep the horse from reaching around and 

 biting as you enter the stall, arrange a rope to 

 pull his head up to the side of the stall, as sug- 

 gested in refusing admission (p. 286). 



If the horse has the habit too well developed to be 

 overcome with the pulley bridle, try the war bri- 

 dle modified (p. 192). Each time he attempts to bite, 

 punish him severely with the bridle. If he still 

 persists, apply the wooden gag (p. 200) and if neces- 



