KICKING. 359 



head round with a cord attached to the side of the head- 

 stall, passed through a ring on the top of the roller, and 

 carried outside of the stall (see Fig. 123). Whenever we 

 pull this cord in order to make the horse turn his quarters 

 away from us, we should employ some appropriate verbal 

 order, such as " over ! " 



Although I have had but little experience of breaking 

 horses of the vice of kicking at night in the stable, I might 

 suggest the use of the strait-jacket (see page 143), which 

 should be loose enough to allow the animal to lie down 

 and get up. I have seen it recommended, in such cases, 

 to hang some soft object, such as a large bag filled 

 with hay, behind the animal, so that, when he kicked, it 

 would give to the stroke, and would then swing back and 

 hit him, without hurting him ; the effect being that the 

 horse would get tired of kicking the inoffensive object, 

 and would accordingly drop the habit. If this method 

 be adopted, I would suggest that the animal should, before 

 being left for the night, be accustomed to the stuffed bag, 

 or whatever else is used, touching him. Tying up one 

 fore leg, or applying the rope-twitch, will keep him quiet 

 while this is being done. I take for granted that he has 

 been previously made thoroughly docile, with the excep- 

 tion of this particular vice. The strait-jacket, loosely put 

 on, would, I have no doubt, prevent the kicking. If it was 

 properly applied, and gradually let out, say, a hole or two 

 each night, it would, in all probability, break the horse of this 

 trick. Connecting together by a rope the near fore with 

 the near hind, and the off fore with the off hind, or connect- 

 ing together both hind legs, passing a rope from the coupling 



