266 THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



keeping down their coats, althongli some fitters of draft horses 

 secure the highest bloom without blanlvcts. All blankets should 

 fit comfoi-tably, have their girth adjusted, and be put on in such 

 a Avaj" as to leave the hair smooth beneath them. 



The hlanhet is usually folded once each way, the cross fold 

 being made first, then caught up so as to double lengthwise. The 

 blanket should be taken up in such manner as to unfold in the 

 reverse order from that in which it was folded up. If this is 

 done the longitudinal fold will open as it is thrown over the horse, 

 and if carried well over his withers, with the open edges of the 

 transverse fold forward, the last step in the unfolding will bring 

 the blanlvct over the horse's loins and croup, drawing it in the 

 direction of the hair. To remove, it should be folded trans- 

 versely backward, then caught up where the lengthwise fold is 

 to come {ind drawn off backwards in such a manner as to leave 

 the hair smooth. 



Hoods are used m conjunction with blankets on race and show 

 horses to cover all but the eyes, ears, and muzzle. It is impor- 

 tant that they should fit well about the eyes and ears. 



Bandages are used either to protect the extremities from chill, 

 in which case they are rolled loosely, or to exert gentle pressure 

 in order to prevent filling of the subcutaneous tissue, commonly 

 termed stocking. They are applied by starting at the middle of 

 the canon, rolling down to or including the fetlock joint, then 

 up to the knee, and back to the starting point. By rolling down- 

 Avard first better support for the bandage is secured. 



Stable Vices. — Wind suching, as indicated by the name, is a 

 practice in which the horse assumes a position with the upper 

 teeth bearing on the manger or other projecting object and pro- 

 ceeds to suck wind into his stomach, accompanied by a long- 

 grunting sound. Wind suckers are difficult to keep in condition. 



Crih-hiting is a vice in which the edge of the manger or any 

 other projection is gi-asped between the teeth and gTadually bitten 

 away. The habit results in a characteristic bevelling of the front 

 margins of the teeth, although the wear of a rounded iron feed 

 box may produce much the same appearance of the teeth. Wind 

 sucking and crib-biting are usually associated, although a horse 

 may be subject to one and not the other. The habit is not con- 



