384 TRIPPING WEAVING. 



wanders about, to be kicked and injured by the other horses, while 

 his restlessness will often keep the whole team awake. If the web 

 of the halter, being first accurately fitted to his neck, is suffered 

 to slip only one way, or a strap is attached to the halter and 

 buckled round the neck, but not sufficiently tight to be of serious 

 inconvenience, the power of slipping the collar will be taken 

 away. 



TRIPPING. 



He must be a skilful practitioner or a mere pretender who 

 promises to remedy this habit. If it arises from a heavy fore-hand, 

 and the fore-legs being too much under the horse, no one can al- 

 ter the natural frame of the anirnal : if it proceeds from tender- 

 ness of the foot, grogginess, or old lameness, these ailments are 

 seldom cured. Also if it is to be traced to habitual carelessness 

 and idleness, no whipping will rouse the drone. A known stum- 

 bler should never be ridden, or driven by any one who values his 

 safety or his life. A tight hand or a strong-bearing rein are pre- 

 cautions that should not be neglected, although they are generally 

 of little avail ; for the inveterate stumbler will rarely be able to 

 save himself, and this tight rein may sooner and farther precipi- 

 tate the rider. If, after a trip, the horse suddenly starts forward, 

 and endeavors to break into a short trot or canter, the rider or 

 driver may be assured that others before him have fruitlessly en- 

 leavored to remedy the nuisance. 



If the stumbler has the foot kept as short, and the toe pared as 

 close as safety will permit, and the shoe is rounded at the toe, or 

 has that shape given to it which it naturally acquires in a fort- 

 night from the peculiar action of such a horse, the animal may 

 not stumble quite so much ; or if the disease which produced the 

 habit can be alleviated, some trifling good may be done, but in 

 almost every case a stumbler should be got rid of, or put to slow 

 and heav}' work. If the latter alternative is adopted, he may trip 

 as much as he pleases, for the weight of the load and the motion 

 of the other horses will keep him upon his legs. 



WEAVING 



This consists in a motion of the head, neck, and body, from side 

 to side, like the shuttle of a weaver passing through the web, and 

 hence the name which is given to this peculiar, and incessant, and 

 unpleasant action. It indicates an impatient, irritable temper, 

 and a dislike to the confinement of the stable. A horse that is 

 thus incessantly on the fret will seldom carry flesh, or be safe to 

 ride or drive. There is no cure for it, but the close tying-up of 

 the animal, or at least allowing him but one loose rein, except at 

 feeding-time 



