WHIMS AND VICE;S OF THE HORSE 



391 



on to the post, then back to the halter and tie as before. 

 Now when the horse pulls he jerks one leg out from under 

 him, which puzzles him so greatly that he soon ceases to 

 pull back. 



Stable whims and vices, and how to overcome them. — 

 Horses are even more likely to develop bad habits in the 

 stable than outdoors, particularly if ill-treated or denied 

 sufficient exercise. These habits are often very danger- 

 ous and usually lessen the usefulness of the horse pos- 

 sessing them. 



Difficult to harness. — Some rather nervous horses have 

 very sensitive skins and, if not properly trained, may be 

 difficult to groom and harness. 

 Many horses are especially 

 sensitive along the abdomen, 

 the back of the fore legs and 

 the front of the hind legs, and 

 care should be exercised in 

 handling these parts. To 

 overcome horses difficult to 

 groom, harness or crupper, 

 first pole them thoroughly as 

 suggested for a horse that 

 kicks. After becoming sub- 

 missive to the pole, arrange 

 a noose twitch or a war bridle 

 on the horse. 



To make a noose twitch 

 procure a small rope, such as a sash cord, and at one end 

 tie a small stationary loop. Hold this loop on the right 

 side of the horse's head, placing the free end of the rope 

 over the head just back of the ears, down the right side 

 and in the mouth just under the upper lip and on top of 

 the teeth, and then up and through the loop at the right 

 side of the head and the twitch is completed. (Fig. 172.) 



To make a war bridle take a small rope, as a sash cord, 

 and tie a small stationary loop in one end just large 



Fig. 172. — Noose Twitch 



