2 72 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



such as sawdust, etc. ; the other, by the use of 

 a muzzle. The former is, in my opinion, the better 

 plan, as I dislike muzzling a horse if it can possibly 

 be avoided. 



As I omitted to make mention of muzzles in the 

 chapter on saddlery, I may here state that they are 

 made both of leather and wire. If the former, they 

 should be lined with tin. Their price is about 

 10s. 6d. 



There are, again, horses which persistently tear 

 their clothing ; and a very expensive and annoying 

 habit it is. It proceeds from itchiness of skin, 

 or worms. They may be prevented doing any 

 damage by means of a shield of stout leather, 

 which is made to buckle on to the back strap of the 

 noseband of the headstall, and long enough to 

 reach to the bottom of the under-jaw. It is a very 

 simple arrangement, which any saddler can con- 

 struct. Horses which kick in the stable (and some 

 horses are most inveterate kickers, often damaging 

 themselves very seriously) generally suffer from 

 capped hocks ; that is to say, the point of the hock 

 gets thickened and enlarged, and is very un- 

 sightly ; in extremely bad cases matter will form, 

 and a running 1 sore ensue. It is a difficult matter 

 to prevent this habit at times. Such kicking 

 generally takes place at night, and is, besides being 



