268 



MISCELLANEOUS HABITS. 



end. I now buckled the throat-latch long enough so that it would 

 not touch the neck when eating or swallowing, yet so close as 

 to bring the points of the tacks sharply against the throat at 

 the least attempt to crib, and stood by to notice the effect. 

 The first time the horse tried to crib he was hurt so keenly 

 that he jumped almost from the ground. In a short time he tried 

 it again, with the same result ; the third time he only gave a lit- 

 tle nip, and then stood quietly for some time. I now had him 



changed to another location, 

 with a man close by to note 

 the results. He reported that 

 the horse did not crib any 

 more during the afternoon. 

 I have broken several horses 

 of the habit by this means, 

 and think if, the adjustment 

 is made right, and continued 

 long enough, it will be found 

 to be very effectual. Success 

 will depend upon the care 

 with which this is kept ad- 

 justed. If there is large mus- 

 cular development of the 

 neck, the strap must be 

 buckled shorter than when 

 the neck is well cut out, as it 

 is termed. Make the reproof 

 severe at first ; then keep the, 

 tacks so adjusted as to touch sharply when the habit is repeated. 

 If the throat-latch is not on a line with the top of the head, the 

 tacks cut the jaw a little below the juncture of the head with the 

 neck. If this is kept on a few days or weeks, and then taken off and 

 again adjusted carelessly, there is likely to be a failure. If the horse 

 finds he can crib once with this on without hurting himself seri- 

 ously, he will be encouraged to repeat the effort, and will soon pun- 

 ish himself severely to do so. But if punished at first, and this is 

 kept where it will hurt keenly at the least attempt to crib, and is 

 left on a few weeks, it ought to be successful. It will not do to 

 buckle a strap around the neck. The adjustment must be made to 

 the strap of the halter, and the halter must fit nicely to the head. 

 It must be made like a bridle, with brow-piece, so that it will not 

 shift or move on the head. A boy broke five horses of this habit a 



Fig. 331.— Halter as Used by the French. 



