DETAILS OF TREATMENT. 



181 



is objectionable because when the kicking is severe against 

 the mouth it will be cut and bruised, besides it is liable to 

 break the jaw. Even when kicking against the nose, by 

 the restraint of the halter, there is possible danger of in- 

 juring the spinal cord at the juncture 

 of the head with the spinal column. 

 I never had an accident occur from 

 such a cause, though I used the treat- 

 ment a great deal in my early experi- 

 menting. I have heard of one case in 

 Maine of a horse breaking his jaw by 

 kicking against the bit, and one in 

 Ohio, killed by the severity of the 

 shock upon the neck. 



It will be found that when the horse 

 kicks against the mouth or nose, he 



will soon learn to throw the head down 

 to give greater length between it and 

 the legs, as this destroys the force of the blow. 



Fig. 157.— Tail Strap. 



With the 



use of the Patent Bridle the force of the kicking throws 

 the head up, and at the same time punishes with such se- 

 verity that there will not be much 

 inclination to repeat it, and the 

 habit will soon be overcome. 



Twenty years ago, a very bad 

 mare defied my utmost efforts to 

 stop her kicking, and as a matter 

 of experiment I passed a rope from 

 the bit, to the hind leg below the fetlock, and thence back 

 to the opposite side of the bit, and held it in my hand 

 while I excited her to kick. After a few repetitions she 

 gave up unconditionally. By this means I succeeded in 

 breaking her of the habit, but the rope chafed and tore the 

 skin so badly upon the legs that I had much trouble in 



Fig. 158. — Tail Strap detached. 



