860 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



the tuft of the chin and limiting the descending movements of the 

 lower lip, 



3d. Horses which rub the Lower Extremity of the Head 

 against the Manger, or the Tail against surrounding Ob- 

 jects. In the stable we sometimes see a horse rubbing the end of 

 his nose against the side of the manger, or the tuft of his chin against 

 the bottom of the latter. He then moves his head alternately from 

 one side to the other, or from before to behind, with provoking per- 

 sistence, as if he experienced from these manoeuvres a pleasant tickling 

 sensation. This habit is indulged in during the intervals between 

 meals, when the animal has no food with which to occupy himself. 

 To remedy this is very difficult, if not impossible ; fortunately, it has 

 no serious drawback. 



It is different, however, with horses which rub the base of the tail 

 against surrounding objects, as the sides of the stall. The hairs of 

 the tail soon become dishevelled, tangled, break, and fall off, under the 

 influence of repeated rubbings. This disfigures the part very much. 

 No doubt uncleanliness, or disease of the skin, ordinarily causes intense 

 itching in this region. Often, however, this symptom results from the 

 presence of worms in the intestine. Attention should be especially 

 paid to this. An appropriate treatment will remove the cause and its 

 effect at the same time. 



4th. Horses which shake the Head or jerk the Reins. 

 In either of these cases the horse gives his head alternate movements 

 of extension and flexion when he is in harness or mounted. With the 

 driving-horse or the draught-horse, the reins, constantly drawn forward 

 or backward, may be caught by the extremity of the shaft or the pole, 

 and annoy the driver. With saddle-horses, besides the difficulty in 

 keeping a proper hold of the reins, the movements of the head, when 

 they are extensive, jerk the arms and the body of the rider with great 

 violence, and sometimes may even unseat him. On the other hand, the 

 horse that is given to this habit pays no attention to the ground upon 

 which he moves, and hence is liable to stumble and fall. 



Outside of the dressing and the combined action of the reins, there 

 is but one remedy for this habit, and that is the employment of a 

 martingale of suitable length. 



We do not allude here to horses which practise the habit on account 

 of an exaggerated sensibility of the bars, or to those whose dressing 

 has not yet been completed, horses to whom the pressure of the bit is 



