HORSES’ BAD HABITS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

HORSES’ BAD HABITS

THE EFFECTS OF IDLENESS. SOME SUGGESTED REMEDIES. There are several stable vices which are generally the result of idleness, and in many cases imitation, where one horse teaches the others. They are in many ways - form or unsoundness, as they may render horse less fit for work, and certainly the animal is worth much less in selling price. The chief vices are “cribbing,” wind sucking; weaving, and kicking in the stable at night. Crib biting and wind sucking are both the same vices, but vary in their method of application. Both consist of swallowing air, the crib biter catching hold of the manger or other suitable object with its teeth, arching the neck, and swallowing by gulping some air, often giving the characteristic grunt, the horse repeating it many times until satisfied, but a wind sucker does not require any object to catch hold of, and can swallow the air in the same way. Both these habits are incurable, and even after long treatment they resort to it as soon as the preventive measures are relaxed. Prevention is ofte. impossible, as whatever measures are adopted they have to be removed at feeding time, when the horse indulges unless the animal is watched and straps or bits replaced. In crib biting, prevention is easier, as one can put the animal in a loose box with no manger or projections the horse can catch hold of, a pail being used to feed from, but often the animal becomes a -wind sucker in time, which is worse. Turning the horse round md keeping on flie pillar reins is successful for the time being, but it is a nuisance and also prevents the horse lying down. Wind suckers are most difficult, and a strap is fitted w.’lh a triangular metal or wooden piece stitched so as to fit into the throat or jowl when the neck is flexed; this strap is fitted tightly round the neck, and prevents the horse arching his neck to wind suck. Another method is to use a hollow tube snaffle bit perforated throughout its length, and this prevents the horse from closing his mouth. Muzzles have been tried, but all methods cannot be used always, as they must be removed to allow feeding or during work. The ill effects of these vices are indigestion and colic, also in a minor form the horse being fui. of wind cannot work properly for a little time after starting work. A crib biter may be “spotted” by the way the teeth are worn down, and once suspicion is aroused, watching the animal in a quiet stable will generally reveal the habit, but wind suckers will not show any tooth wear, but they may show the marks of the neck strap, otherwise it can only be detected by actually catching the culprit. Weaving is not often seen, but here again a confirmed weaver is incurable. It is shown by the swaying to and fro of the body, or only of the head and neck. In the early stages extra work or turning out to grass or increasing the number of feeds will often stop it. It is not easy to tie the horse up to prevent it, but it should be attempted if the habit is bad enough to weaken the animal. As other horses may start the habit from imitation, isolate the animal to prevent spreading the vice. Kicking in the stable at night is a trouble with mares rather than geldings, but is liable to cause accidents, bruises, cuts, capped hocks, etc., and can in some way or other usually be prevented. Tins is not the same as stamping in the stable, which is due to actual disease caused by the leg mite irritating the skin. In some stables it is customary to pad the posts, so as to prevent the animal hurting itself.