Some of these accidents arise from peculiar habits of the horse, others from carelessness or ignorance on the part of his groom.

Getting Loose

Some horses are very cunning and per-severing in their efforts to get loose; they often succeed during the night, and wander over the stable in quest of food quarrelling and playing with the other horses, disturbing their rest, and laming them. Some slip the halter over their ears these must be tied by a neck-strap; or the throat-lash, by be ing set out from the head-piece, can perform the office of a neck-strap: others bite the rope through; the only remedy for them is a chain. In admitting a strange horse to a large stable, it might be prudent to tie him up as if he were known to be in the habit of getting loose; it will soon be seen whether or not the precaution be necessary.

Turning In The Stall

Small horses often get into a habit of standing across the stall, or of turning round in it, head out and tail in. Injuries of the back, the head, the neck, and some lamenesses, are occasionally produced by a sudden and violent effort of the horse to right himself. He should be fastened by a halter rather than by a neck-strap, which gives him too much liberty; and he should have two reins to the halter, each of the proper length.

Lying Below The Manger

I have spoken of horses that stand out of the stall, and lie so far back that they can not rise till the head is liberated. Others lie too far forward. For some reason which I can not discover, unless it be to lie well upon the litter, they throw themselves so far forward in lying down, that the head goes under the manger, or abuts against the wall. The horse can not obtain complete repose, and when not young and active, or when the manger is too low, he can not rise from this position. He must be drawn back before he can get up. The space below the manger may be boarded up, and the litter should be spread well back. Perhaps the halter-reins might be attached to the travises instead of the manger; placed so far behind the head, they would keep the horse back; but I have never seen this tried.