752 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



be dependent on the generative functions, for it is always 

 more pronounced at the period of cestrum. It may be due 

 to bad bringing up, horses being annoyed when young, 

 such as being ' flicked ' with a rubber every time the man 

 passes, until flicking and kicking become associated in the 

 mind of the horse. 



Horses may kick from disagreement among themselves. 

 Whatever means they have of communication with each 

 other are entirely unknown to us, but they certainly exist, 

 because without some means of communication it would 

 be impossible for two animals to quarrel. It is perfectly 

 true that each watches the other very closely, attitude 

 and expression speak volumes and are instantaneously 

 recognised, but apart from these, we believe there may be 

 other means of communication, and if they exist the spread 

 of panics is accounted for. 



There are sour - tempered, ill - conditioned horses that 

 seldom agree with any others, and that invariably kick a 

 stranger. In the management of a stud of horses it is 

 important that animals should occupy the same position in 

 the stable and know their companions, by which means 

 kicking is controlled. 



Some horses will kick when feeding and at no other 

 time ; the majority of stable kicks met with probably occur 

 during feeding ; the encroachment of a neighbour at this 

 time is not appreciated. Eack chains should be used 

 during feeding to prevent a horse trying to get at its 

 neighbour's food. Obviously these are only required when 

 stall partitions do not exist. 



Kicking from sheer idleness and lightness of heart is 

 very frequent. It generally occurs at night, is started by 

 one animal and kept up by his neighbour, especially if a 

 stall partition exists. By the morning this may be con- 

 verted into matchwood. In such cases the sound of kicking 

 produced on the board acts as a stimulus and encourage- 

 ment. Not only in order to save the stall partition, but 

 also to control the stimulus, kicking mats seen in Fig. 89 

 should be employed. 



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