Preventing Grain Gorging 315 



been recommended to make the horse's tail sore, by 

 tying it up over his back as follows. Double a 

 small piece of rope about eight feet long, at the 

 middle, and tie the doubled part to the tail. Now pull 

 the tail up over the animal's back and tie the free 

 ends of the rope to the collar, one on either side at 

 the hame tugs, drawing down rather tight, so as to 

 make considerable strain in the cords of the tail. 

 To hold the ropes in place, it is a good plan to use 

 the surcingle, placing it over the ropes. This ap- 

 pliance should not be left on more than an hour. 

 It will make the muscles and tail so very sore that 

 the horse will be unable to switch it for some time. 

 ^ Gorging grain. — Many horses have the dis- 

 agreeable habit of gorging their grain and swallowing 

 it without mastication. This may result in fatal 

 colic. To overcome the habit, give the horse a 

 drink and feed some hay before feeding the grain. 

 Another very good plan is to feed the grain in a rather 

 large, flat-bottomed grain box provided with pockets, 

 as this arrangement prevents the horse from getting 

 much grain at a mouthful. Some horsemen recom- 

 mend placing round stones in the grain-box, but the 

 confirmed grain gorger is usually an adept at throwing 

 stones out before eating the grain. 



Difficult to drench. — Many horses are rather 

 difficult to drench, resisting all attempts to get the 

 morsel down their throats. A very good plan to 

 make the refractory horse take his drench is to apply 



