Rolling in the Stable 307 



Attach a snap to the lower end of the rope, and snap 

 into the ring at the top of the halter. This rope 

 should be of sufficient length to allow the horse to 

 get his nose to the ground about where his front 

 feet usually stand. This appliance will permit the 

 horse to lie down, get up and do much as he likes, 

 but he cannot place the top of his head to the ground. 

 As he cannot roll without first placing the top of his 

 head on the ground, this is a very efficient arrange- 

 ment for overcoming the habit. To lead the horse 

 from the stable, it is only necessary to unsnap the 

 rope at the top of the halter and untie the halter. 



Tearing blankets. — There are horses that have 

 the habit of biting and tearing their blankets. There 

 are at least two rather common causes for the trouble : 

 first, an itching skin, and as the blanket prevents 

 the horse from biting the itching part he bites and 

 tears the blanket in order to get at the part; and 

 second, the salty taste that is found in the blanket, 

 due to the sweating and other exudates from the 

 skin. The salty taste induces the horse first to lick 

 the blanket and later to tear it. To overcome the 

 habit, attach one end of a bar to the halter 

 and the other end to the surcingle, or construct a 

 neck-cradle (Fig. 91). As these prevent the horse 

 from turning the head to either side, he cannot reach 

 the blanket with his teeth. Another and perhaps 

 more desirable device is made by using a nose- 

 band and suspending small, short chains from the 



