454 PRELIMINAET EEMAEKS. 



I hold it as a rule, that accidents having once occurred, 

 similar accidents, under similar circumstances, are liable to 

 occur again. Of the causes above enumerated, let us examine 

 a little more in detail ; at the same time, I beg of the reader, if 

 he be the owner of a horse, to go at once and thoroughly examine 

 his own stable, with an eye to the prevention of consequences 

 such as I shall presently treat upon. Accidents are sooner 

 prevented than remedied, and " the eye of a master," it is said, 

 " maketh diligent." Causes of injury arising from circum- 

 stances numbered 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th, are the 

 most common sources of injury to horses while within the 

 stable. 



1st. — Becoming loose in the stable, and fighting with each 

 other. — This is generally done during the night. A horse, by 

 suddenly jerking his head, or from restlessness, pulls and 

 stretches the head-collar shank, or what is more probable, what 

 ought to be the shank ; the fastening breaks, and the animal 

 finds himself loose, when he at once begins to wander about 

 the stable. This excites alarm amongst the other horses, and 

 presently the row begins ; and unless some one be at hand to 

 restore order, the owner may consider himself a fortunate indi- 

 vidual if no worse injuries are inflicted than a few cuts and 

 bruises. Sometimes, however, they break the limbs of one 

 another, or a jaw bone is broken, or a joint is laid open, and 

 months elapse before the animal injured is again fit for service. 

 Stablemen are often careless, and for weeks or months before 

 the grand mel^e comes ofi" every animal in the stable may have 

 been tied to the manger in a most insecure manner, probably 

 with old halters, or old neck straps without buckles, and with a 

 piece of old hempen cord for a shank, half untwisted, and more 

 than half rotten. 



