Pawing at night.—I have prevented the practice of this vice by employing a spancel (coupling strap) to connect the animal’s fore-legs together, so as to give him freedom to lie down, but not to paw. The use of this strap would, no doubt, in time, cure the vice.
Pawing back the litter.—I note that a correspondent, replying to a query, in the Field, as to some means of stopping this practice, which causes the horse to sleep, more or less, on the bare floor, states that connecting the fore-legs in the manner I have just described, will accomplish the object in view, and, after a few repetitions, will wean the animal from the habit.
Rubbing the tail.—Although this vice comes more within the province of the veterinary surgeon, than within that of the breaker, a few remarks on it may not, here, be out of place. Mr. D. C. Pallin, A. V. D., who is a thorough good authority on all
Fig. 49.—Tail tied with tapes to prevent horse rubbing it.
matters connected with horses, tells me that he has always found the plan of tying the animal’s tail round, with two separate pieces of tape (see [Fig. 48]) to be efficacious in stopping the practice of this habit. I may add, that this result may, also, as a rule, be obtained by the application, with the finger, from time to time, of a little blue mercurial ointment, round the inside of the anus. If the rubbing be due to the presence of worms, or to skin disease, appropriate remedies should be employed.
Sleeping standing.—There are many horses that will never, voluntarily, lie down—a habit which seriously detracts from their capacity for work. Such horses might be taught to lie down (see [page 153]), and, when they had done so, might be kept in the recumbent position by the strait-jacket. Having no experience in this matter, I offer the advice, merely, as a possibly useful suggestion. In all cases, a good, deep bed of straw will be a strong inducement for a horse to lie down.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TEACHING THE HORSE TRICKS.
“Begging”—Bowing—Circling steadily for Circus Work—Coming up to Call—Driving without Reins—Following—Jumping over another Horse, etc.—Kissing—Laughing—Lying down—“No”—Picking up a Handkerchief, etc.—See-sawing on a Plank, etc.—Shaking Hands—Shaking the Head—Waltzing—“Yes.”