146 STABLE ECONOMT. 



day he had been put into a strange stable where the manger 

 was low, deep, narrow, and sparred across the top. Pie got 

 into it, and resisted all the keeper's efforts to get him out of 

 it. He could not, or would not descend. Two stout pieces 

 of board were procured, and laid across the manger top. By 

 placing first the one foot and then the other upon these boards, 

 he was brought down, merely by pushing him back. 



STABLE HABITS. 



Among stablemen the word habit is applied only to pecu- 

 liarity of conduct, to some unusual or objectionable action. 



Kicking the Stall-Post. — Many idle horses, and mares, 

 during the spring, more than geldings, amuse themselves at 

 night by kicking at the stall-post, the travis, or the wall. 

 They often injure the legs ; the point of the hock is generally 

 bruised and tumified, and the horse frequently throws his 

 shoes. Some are much worse than others. I have known 

 them demolish the travis, break down the walls, and injure 

 themselves very severely. In the Veterinarian, a horse is 

 spoken of that persisted in kicking till he broke his leg. The 

 habit, I think, is sometimes a species of insanity. There is 

 no accounting for it. The horse may be perfectly peaceable 

 in all other respects. Some seem to intend injury to horses 

 standing next them. But many kick all night, though there 

 should be no other horse in the stable. Few take to the habit 

 while they are in full and constant work, and many give it 

 over partly, or entirely, after their work becomes laborious. 

 If curable, it will be cured by work. Nothing else brings 

 them so effectually to their senses. 



Once confirmed, however, the habit is very rarely cured. 

 When first observed, some means should be taken to check 

 it. Most of them kick all to one side. Such should be tried 

 in another stall, having a short travis on the kicking side, and 

 no horse in the next standing. The groom sometimes nails 

 a v/hin-bush against the post, and that appears to succeed in 

 a few cases, especially with mares that kick only in spring. 



Clogs fastened to the legs prevent kicking, and if constantly 

 worn for a long time, perhaps they might cure it. The horse 

 might forget the habit, but in general he has a good memory. 

 The second, if not the first night in which he finds himself 

 unfettered, he recurs to his old trick. 



The clogs are applied to different parts of the leg ; to the 

 pastern, to the leg directly above the fetlock, or to the ham. 



