140 BREAKING AND TRAINING 



has anything to do with vice evidenced in the stable, 

 but merely for the sake of convenience. 



The shoeing smith has many trying experiences, but 

 none more trj'ing than when he is unfortunate enough 

 to be asked to shoe a horse that snatches the foot away 

 directly he picks it up, perhaps " landing out " at the 

 same time. 



Considering the hundreds of thousands of horses 

 that must be shod daily, this particular vice is not of 

 too common occurrence. When it does appear, it is 

 like kicking. Rough usage only seems to make matters 

 worse. So true is this, indeed, that there are even 

 some coachmen who will not have a twitch put on 

 under such difficult circumstances. A very small 

 matter will frequently allay the animal's viciousness. 

 Often, for instance, a fidgety horse will stand 

 perfectly quiet when those who look after it stand at 

 its head. Measures of so mild a nature cannot, how- 

 ever, be always depended on. Commonly, the safety 

 of the smith and that of the animal demand the 

 employment of restraint. 



A travis (stock) will be found very useful for restrain- 

 ing purposes. It is not every forge, however, that 

 can boast of the possession of this appliance, and 



