117 



the wet taken away, and renewing altogether about once in ten 

 days. Troublesome horses may be kept very much quieter by bed- 

 ding them up with plenty of clean straw every night, which hampers 

 their legs and shackles them as it were, and the straw can be used 

 again in another box. 



HOESE TEAEING OFF HIS SHEETS. 



Drill a hole through a stout piece of ash at each end, fasten one 

 end tight to the roller, and attach a foot of stout leather strap to 

 the other end. This strap fasten to the head collar. 



e:ickixg in the stable. 



If a horse appears to kick in the stable from a merely vicious 

 propensity, tie a truss of straw behind him, suspended from the 

 ceiling by a cord, in order to give it full swing — letting the truss 

 hang in a position where the horse's leg is likely to hit it. The only 

 precaution to be recommended is to put on a pair of knee-caps, as, 

 when struck by the return of the straw, horses are generally so 

 terrified that they spring forwards or upwards, and might injure the 

 knees against the manger. In a stable kept too hot, warm clothing 

 is often a cause of kicking. 



Again, place the horse in a box 12ft. wide, with a double shank to 

 his collar, and two posts, about from four to five feet asunder, fastened 

 well in the ground and to the ceiling, and placed behind the 

 shoulders at either side. The horse can lie down at pleasure, but 

 cannot reach the wall or stall at either side in kicking. 



Or, have a ring in the roller, well fastened on, which will be exactly 

 in the middle when the roller is on the horse ; have a piece of rope 

 (the rope must be just long enough to allow the horse to walk com- 

 fortably) with a shackle at each end ; the rope passes through the 

 ring on the roller and the shackles, one on each hind pastern ; this 

 does not prevent the horse walking, as it simply passes through the 

 ring, but it not only renders it impossible for the horse to kick, but 

 very soon cures the habit. 



Another method is the following : a driving-bit and curb are 

 put on with leather straps running through two loops underneath 

 the roller, and fastened with broad web straps to the fetlocks. They 

 should be worn for a month. The horse can lie down with them, 

 and never requu-e them after. The straps are fastened to the lowest 

 bar of the driving-bit. 



If a loose box does not answer, hobbling the hind legs is the only 

 resource ; sometimes a large bundle of furze on each stall post will 



