Wind-Sucking. 115 



as often as necessary. If this habit is not broken, it will 

 soon be imitated by every horse in the stable. 



WIND-SUCKING. 



This bears a close analogy to crib-biting. It arises 

 from the same causes ; the same purpose is accomplished ; 

 and the same results follow. The horse stands with his 

 neck bent ; his lips alternately a little opened and then 

 closed, and a noise is heard as if he were sucking. If 

 we may judge from the same comparative want of condi- 

 tion and the flatulence which we have described under 

 the last head, either some portion of wind enters the 

 stomach, or there is an injurious loss of saliva. This di- 

 minishes the value of the horse almost as much as crib- 

 biting ; it is as contagious, and it is as inveterate. The 

 only remedies, and they will seldom avail, are tying the 

 head up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on 

 a muzzle with sharp spikes towards the neck, and which 

 will prick hun whenever he attempts to rein his head in 

 for the purpose of wind-sucking. — Youatt. 



CUTTING. 



There are some defects in the natural form of the horse, 

 which are the causes of cutting, and which no contrivance 

 will remedy ; as when the legs are placed too near to each 

 other, or when the feet are turned inward or outward. 

 Some horses will cut only when they are fatigued or lame, 

 and old ; many colts will cut before they arrive at their 

 full strength. The inside of the fetlock is often bruised 

 by the shoe or the hoof of the opposite foot. Many ex- 

 pedients used to be tried to remove this ; the inside heel 

 has been raised and lowered, and the outside raised and 

 lowered; and sometimes one operation has succeeded, 

 and sometimes the contrary ; and there was no point so 



