BITING AND SNAPPING 105 



becomes a confirmed biter and has to be muzzled. The 

 muzzle is only a preventive and not a cure. 



A good level-headed groom or horseman seldom 

 allows his horse to get into this bad habit, but some 

 grooms have been known to tease a good-tempered 

 horse to try and make him bite. In the initial stages 

 the Indian war bridle will bring about a speedy cure, 

 together with judicious grooming and firm, sensible 

 management. 



I once had a very dangerous biter to handle. He 

 was placed in a large loose-box when he arrived. The 

 next morning I had a very difficult task to go into the 

 box with him, for he bit and fought at me with his 

 open mouth, savagely showing his teeth. He came from 

 a horse repository and was "spiffed"; the purchaser 

 did not know until the next day, when the horse took 

 a piece out of the carman's arm. I was immediately 

 consulted, and I instructed the owner to have the horse 

 sent to me, but he was at a loss to know how to get the 

 brute out of the stable. He was, however, advised to 

 "spiff " (drug) the horse so that he could send him safely 

 to my farm. (Chloral hydrate was given in a pail of 

 water when the horse was thirsty.) 



I was certainly afraid to enter the loose-box alone 

 with this savage horse, so I got an old revolver loaded 



