Preventing Shoe-boils 311 



pieces of tape or ribbon around the tail, one near the 

 tail-head, a second near the middle of the tail-bone 

 and a third near the lower end of the bone. 



Rubbing harness. — Many horses have the annoy- 

 ing habit of rubbing the harness while standing in the 

 stable during the noon meal. While this may be due 

 to many causes, the principal ones are improperly 

 fitting harness, which often causes sores; mange, which 

 causes intense itching, and unclean skin. To over- 

 come the habit, search out and remove the cause. If 

 it is due to poorly fitting harness and sores, change 

 the harness and heal the sores ; if it is due to mange, 

 cure the disease, and if it is due j:o unclean skin, 

 cleanse the animal. Perhaps no greater service 

 can be done the tired horse than to remove the har- 

 ness and let him consume his midday meal in quiet. 



Lying down cow-fashion. — This is a habit in which 

 the horse doubles his forelegs back under his chest 

 when lying down in such a way that the heels 

 press against the elbow. The constant friction of 

 the heels against the elbows causes boils or tumors, 

 usually called shoe-boils, to develop at the elbow 

 joint. Such boils are very unsightly and may be- 

 come painful. There are several rather common 

 methods of overcoming the habit, such as protecting 

 the foot with a boot, shortening the inside heel of 

 the shoe to prevent it from rubbing against the elbow, 

 and securing a scantling two inches square across 

 the stall just back of where the horse normally stands 



