66 
DOMESTIC AJSEMAL8. 
mere object of having a gripe at a rail. Medicine will be altogether 
thrown away in this case. 
The only remedy is a muzzle, with bars across the bottom ; sufficient- 
ly wide to enable the animal to pick up his corn and to pull his hay, 
but not to grasp the edge of the manger. If this is worn for a consid- 
erable period, the horse may be tired of attempting that which he 
cannot accomplish, and for a while forget the habit, but in a majority 
of cases, the desire of crib-biting will return with the power of grati- 
fying it. 
The causes of crib-biting are various, and some of them beyond the 
control of the proprietor of the horse. It is often the result of imita- 
tion ; but it is more frequently the consequence of idleness. The high 
fed and spirited horse must be in mischief if he is not usefully employed. 
Sometimes, but we believe not often, it is produced by partial starva- 
tion, whether in a bad straw-yard, or from unpalatable food. An occa- 
sional cause of crib-biting is the frequent custom of grooms, even when 
the weather is not severe, of dressing them in the stable. The horse 
either catches at the edge of the manger, or at that of the partition on 
each side, if he has been turned, and thus he forms the habit of laying 
hold of these substances on every occasion. 
Wind-Sucking. — This bears a close analogy to crib-biting. It arises 
from the same causes; the same purpose is accomplished; and the same 
results follow. The horse stands with his neck bent; his head drawn 
inward ; his lips alternately a little opened and then closed, and a noise 
is heard as if he were sucking. If we may judge from the same com- 
parative want of condition and the flatulence which we have described 
under the last head, either some portion of wind enters the stomach, or 
there is an injurious loss of saliva. This diminishes the value of the 
horse almost as much as crib-biting ; it is as contagious, and it is as in- 
veterate. The only remedies, and they will seldom avail, are tying the 
head up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on a muzzle 
with sharp spikes toward the neck, and which will prick him whenever 
he attempts to rein his head in for the purpose of wind-sucking. 
Nut Lying Down. — It not uncommonly happens that a horse will sel- 
dom or never lie down in the stable. He sometimes continues in appa- 
rent good health, and feeds and works well ; but generally his legs 
swell, or he becomes fatigued sooner than another horse. If it is im- 
possible to let him loose in the saddle, or to put him into a spare box, 
we know not what is to be done. No means, gentle or cruel, will force 
him to lie down. The secret is that he is tied up, and either has never 
dared to lie down through fear of the confinement of the halter, or he 
has been cast in the night and severely injured. If he can be suffered 
to range the stable, or have a comfortable box in which he may be 
loose, he will usually lie down the first night. Some few horses, however, 
will lie down in the stable, and not in a loose box. A fresh, well-made 
bed, will generally tempt the tired-out horse to refresh himself with 
sleep. 
Overreach. — This unpleasant noise, known also by the term “click 
ing,” arises from the toe of the hind-foot knocking against the shoe of 
the fore-foot. 
