KICKING — BITING — SHYING. 139 



because it is ofteu acquired by habit. It can hardly be 

 classed as a vice, as it is generally in play, although asso- 

 ciated with danger and destruction to both the kicker and 

 the next stall neighbor, and often results in a broken or 

 bruised leg. The remedy consists in the removal of exciting 

 causes, such as other playful or idle horses, from the neigh- 

 borhood of the kicker. Allow a loose-box or plenty of room, 

 and nothing to kick at, regular and plenty of day work, 

 but do not stint the feed as is often done in such cases. 



Biting is much like kicking in its cause and effects 

 Apply a wire net muzzle, and enforce obedience by always 

 holding in the left hand a short stick, so that the animal 

 can see it. This is a necessary precaution, because the 

 horse is quick to discover its absence and will act accord- 

 ingly; it is not necessary to use it, however. We have 

 known instances where an extra glass of whiskey induced 

 boldness and indifference on the part of the groom, asso- 

 ciated perhaps with neglect of the usual stick in hand, has 

 caused severe injury. 



Shying in the stable, as on the road, is the result of 

 incipient disease of the eyes — a distorted vision — seeing 

 things in a hideous form — and in the stable is manifested 

 very commonly at the sieve or vessel in which the feed is 

 carried to the manger or trough, causing the animal to shy, 

 not always /ro??i the object, but towards it, as if to crush it 

 on the spot, and if the groom is not active in striking the 

 animal off from him, he may be crushed against the stall's 

 partition. Care and attention will be required on the part 



