VICES IN HORSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 13

VICES IN HORSES

Kicking in the Stabie at Night

SUGGESTI0NS FOR' CHECKING There are many stable vices that a horse may show, and they are said to spread to other horses dn the stables by imi.tation, fas so often they are the result of idleness and insufiicient work. Again there are vicious or dangerous habits such as kicking, bitlng or squeezing one against the side of the stall — then in working oue may notice vices such as jibbing, bolting or shying, showing the risk one may run in buying ta. horse from a stranger without some warranty or trial. The stables vdees crib-biting and wind-sucking are two forms of air swallowing. The first, crib-biting, needs some objecit which the horse catches hold with his teeth to get a flrm hold, .arches its neck, giving a grunt as he gulps and swallows some air; but the . wind-sucker arches his neck, puts hds head into his chest, and attains tne same result as the cribbiter. Unfortunately, wind-suckers can only be spotted by watching them in the stable, unless there is a tell-tale mark of a neck strap, used as a preventive. Crib-biters in a short time show evidence of the vice by the irregular wear of the teeth. Indigestdon and colic are some of the ill-effects of the vice, and also a horse may be so distended that he is unfit for fast work until he has walked some distanee. Prevention is difficult, as once the habit has become confirmed the 'horse is seldom cured and will indulge in it whenever possible. The wind-sucker may be prevented by wearing a special strap to prevent the arching of the neck, but "cribbers" may sometim.es be cured in mild cases by putting in & loose box with no manger or projections for the horse to catch hold. Sometimes a special bit may be tried, or the horse is kept on ,the pillar reins for- a time, but no permanent cure has been found. Weaving is not very often seen, but once established is not easy to prevent, and it results in loss of eondition, otherwise there seems to be no other detiuruent in the habit-— as it generally occurs when tied up. Put animal in loose box. Kicking in the stable at night is a vice distinet from stamping, and perbjaps kicking in the stable from the irnitatioa of leg mange; and it is generally mares that indulge in this amusement. Unfortunately it may result in annoyance to anyone sleeping close by, dama'ge to the stable flttings, and injury to the animal, such as capped hock, bruises or broken shoes. There are many suggested methods of prevention, but some are risky to the animal, such as shackling the hdnd legs, a few links of hea/y chain or a heelpad fitted in the liollow of the heel, bp the usual methods tried are — (1) a small light in the stable; (2) changing the horse in next stall — perhaps putting a gelding rather thun another mare next^to the offender; (3) wearing hock caps to prevent damage to the hoeks; (d) putting gorse or matting around the places the mare kdcks. Tearing clothes is very troublesome to cure, and often arises from irritation of the skin or itch'ing set up by the clothing, Sometimes a linen sheet under the rug will prevent it, but usually oue has to put on a cradle or other appllanco to prevent tho horse rcaclnitg round to get at the rugs, etc-.