STABLE VICE 133 



course, dispense with either of these methods by 

 simply putting a muzzle on the horse after he has had 

 his night feed. 



Pawing in Stable. — Some horses are con- 

 stantly on the scrape with their fore feet whilst in 

 stable, and in this way they not only wear out their 

 shoes, particularly at the toe, more quickly, but make 

 the stall look very untidy, and cause annoyance in 

 various other ways that I need not detail. Sometimes 

 the scraping goes on all the night through, in many 

 cases preventing those living above the stable from 

 obtaining their proper amount of sleep. There are 

 instances in which it is a sign of disease or pain 

 in the foot. 



In others, again, we can discover no cause, but the 

 inherent viciousness before spoken of. In order to 

 cure an animal of pawing, many different courses have 

 been adopted. The plan, which is by no means free 

 from objection, is that of " knee haltering," 

 limiting the movement of the feet. A very 

 deep bed of sawdust will be of servica in the 

 treatment of a pawing horse. In some instances 

 again, changing the animal to a loose-box will be found 



