142 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



lasso; for while the fight is progressing they 

 are usually on their knees attempting to bite 

 each other on the legs. The noise which at- 

 tends such a combat is positively terrific, and 

 usually paralyzes the spectators with terror. 

 The horses rush at each other with a roar, ancl 

 when about to come in contact they usually 

 wheel about and receive the shock on their 

 haunches. After a few seconds of contact at 

 this point, when the roaring is usually most 

 terrible, they again wheel about, endeavoring 

 to grasp each other's fore legs with their teeth. 

 To ward off this mode of attack each stallion 

 usually sinks to his knees, and then the battle 

 begins in earnest. 



When a jack attacks a stallion he almost in- 

 variably makes for the throat of his antagonist; 

 and when once his teeth are closed with a firm 

 grasp there is no means of releasing his hold 

 except to lay the infuriated beast senseless by 

 a blow upon the head; and even then mechani- 

 cal appliances often have to be used to unlock 

 the clenched jaws. Such a contest as the one 

 last described usually results in the death of 

 the stallion; and when both stallions and jacks 

 are kept in the same stable the greatest care 

 should be taken to avoid the possibility of a 

 combat between them. 



