STABLES 267 



fined to the stable, but may be practiced whenever the oppor- 

 tunity offers. Either a smoothly finished stall in which there is 

 nothing to offer a toothhold or the use of a strap fitted closely 

 enough about the throat to compress the lar^Tix when pressure is 

 borne on the teeth, but causing the horse no discomfort when 

 not indulging in the vice, are the usual means of preventing, al- 

 though not curing, the habit. 



Weaving is a rhythmical shifting of the weight of the fore- 

 hand from one forefoot to the other in much the same manner 

 that is displayed by a bear in captivity. As a rule, enforced 

 idleness is an active cause. It has been suggested that horses 

 tied with chain halter shanks have acquired this habit in order 

 to rattle the chains. 



KicMng. — Horses kick from various motives, such a mali- 

 ciousness, good feeling, or wilful attempts to injure either com- 

 panions or attendants. A gTcat many horses which never mani- 

 fest an inclination to kick elsewhere acquire the habit of kicking 

 in the stable. Mares are more frequently wickers than geldings. 

 Some horses kick only at feeding time, thus giving vent to their 

 impatience. A true stable kicker appears to have no other ex- 

 cuse than the satisfaction of kicking; for such horses a swing- 

 ing bale partition is recommended. It offers little resistance to 

 the kick and for that reason seems to destroy the desire. Either 

 hobbling the two hind feet or even shackling one to a weight is 

 sometimes resorted to, but such practices are attended with more 

 serious danger than the original offence. 



Some horses kick only in the dark, and the presence of a light 

 in the stable will stop them. Some are provoked to kick by an 

 especially uncongenial companion in the next stall. Finally, 

 horses perfectly well behaved in the stable under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances kick from sheer spirit and energy when confined for 

 an unusually long period. 



Tail Biihhing. — The presence of animal parasites or neglect 

 of the region under the tail, which may become foul, are usually 

 the causes of the first offence at tail rubbing. Once acquired, 

 however, the practice will be persisted in, even after the correc- 

 tion of the conditions which originally induced it. If thorough 

 gi'ooming will not stop it, the horse may have to be put into a 

 specially constructed loose box, provided either with a fender 



