174 BREAKING AND TRAININCx 



In this case, are we to consider that the proprietor 

 of the horse possesses any claim on the breaker on 

 the ground of depreciation in the value of the animal ? 

 In the writer's opinion he can claim dam.ages in circum- 

 stances of this sort. The breaker has clearly been 

 negligent in taking the horse out without providing 

 proper protection for his knees, it being an acknow- 

 ledged custom and one universally applied to put a 

 pair of knee caps on a horse whilst breaking him. 



Practically speaking, indeed, the knees are the only 

 part of a horse which may properly be said to be 

 protected during the process of breaking. And this 

 may be taken to prove how necessary it is to have 

 the knee caps put on before the horse quits his stall, 

 and not once removed until he has returned to it 

 and all parts of his gear been taken off. Young 

 horses are frequently given to the practice of brushing, 

 sometimes in so large a degree as to cause considerable 

 pain and swelling in the parts affected. When a 

 horse suffers as a result of this practice the great 

 thing required is rest and the application of some 

 cooling stuff to the injured region. If it has not 

 been already tried the application of a three-quarter 

 shot will be found helpful. In case of an injury of 



