ADVICE TO BUYERS. 63 



vicious habits, such as crib-biting, wind-sucking, kicking 

 wheu shoeing, chevying the rope of his halter, or shppiug 

 his halter, and be guarded against them, by the warranty ; 

 but if the horse appear to suit in every respect, I would not 

 advise rejecting him on account of some trivial vice tbat 

 may be rectified by care, such as kicking when shoeing, 

 chewing the rope, or slipping his halter; but a crib-biter 

 and wind-sucker I would never recommend any one to pur- 

 chase, except at a very reduced figure, and we must further 

 inquire if he is iu aiiy degree restive. Crib-biting and wind- 

 sucking are vicious habits, which often cause a horse to be- 

 come lean and weak, and sometimes render him very 

 subject to flatulent colic. It is, therefore, a defect of im- 

 portance. In crib-biting he lays hold of the manger, post, 

 or stump of a tree with his teeth, and appears to be sucking 

 with an almost convulsive effort, and a slight grunting 

 noise. The manner in which this injures a horse has not 

 been satisfactorily explained, but it is allowed by all to be 

 an important defect. Wind-sucking can be easily under- 

 stood by the name; the horse will suck in air while stand- 

 ing in the centre of his box-stall ; he gives a sort of con- 

 vulsive twitch with his lips, and you will observe him to 

 swallow the air, and extend his head a httle to one side ; 

 he also can suck in air by laying hold of the manger, &c.; 

 but it is not all crib-biters that are also wind-suckers. 

 It may be -easily detected by watching the horse for a 

 short time in his stall undisturbed. 



Kestiveness is sometimes discovered by separating a 

 horse from his companion after riding together a few miles, 

 or after riding him and bringing him back to bis stable, by 

 attempting to ride him off again ; on these occasions, if a 

 horse has any restiveness, he generally exhibits it. 



Before I close this subject, it may be proper to remind 



