CRIBBING. 109 



to be patented. Instead of rings, straps of iron, fitted to 

 slide on the bit and attach the 

 strap to, were used and patented. 

 These straps, pressing upon the 

 cheeks, made them sore, and con- 

 sequently objectionable ; instead 

 of a strap across the nose, which 

 is indispensable to make the con- 

 trol of the bit effective, an over- 

 draw check was used upon the 

 straps, passing up from the bit 

 over the head, a slide was placed, 

 and by this means the fulcrum of 

 purchase across the nose became 

 weak and imperfect, because this 

 slide, slipping back in the least, 

 which it was liable to do, relaxed 

 the draw across the nose, and 

 thus destroyed the end to be at- 

 tained by its compression against Cut o bit ' t ^ a horse. be put n 

 the roof of the mouth. I give it 



as it should be used ; it is especially adapted for nervous- 

 tempered pullers, and will seem to be just the thing on some 

 horses for driving, while on others it may prove a failure. 



CKIBBINGK 



I treat cribbing successfully as a habit. There may be 

 constitutionally predisposing; causes but it is certain, 

 whatever the pretensions of any one, I have never been 

 given any proof of ability to break up the habit with medi- 

 cine. Horses will not crib on any thing that is lower than 

 the knees. Hence the treatment of tearing away the 

 manger, and feeding on the floor, or in a basket. Some- 

 times sawing between the teeth will stop the habit, by 

 making the teeth sore, but is not worthy of serious con- 

 sideration. 



There is but one practical plan of breaking up this 

 habit, and the success of that will depend very much 

 upon the skill displayed in making the adjustment. 



The act of cribbing causes great contraction of the 

 muscles of the neck ; and the larynx, in consequence, is 



