The Country Gentleman's Magazine 



43-^ 



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HALTERING WILD AND CHECKING VICIOUS HORSES. 



IT is often found difficult to halter un- 

 ruly colts even when they are in the 

 stable. The following cut (fig. i) is illustrative 

 of how it has, according to the Rural New 

 Yorker, often been done very successfully : — 

 "Take a light pole, ten or twelve feet 

 long, or as long as you can handle to ad- 

 vantage, drive two nails into it about eight 

 inches apart; the first about an inch from 



Fig. I, 



the end of the pole, with the heads bent a 

 little outward from each other. Then take 

 a common rope halter with a running noose, 

 pull the part which slips through the noose 

 back about two feet and hang the part that 

 goes over the head upon the pole between 

 the nails, keeping hold of the hitching part, 

 which must be as long as the pole. 



" The halter is now so spread and hung 

 upon the stick as to be easily put on to the 

 head. If the colt is not excited or fright- 

 ened as you extend the halter towards him, 

 he will reach out his nose to smell and ex- 

 amine it ; and while he is thus gratifying his 

 curiosity you can bring the slack part 

 under his jaw, and raise the pole high 

 enough to bring the halter over and back 

 of the ears, when, by turning the stick half 



way round, the halter will drop from it upon 

 the head. This will frighten the colt a 

 little and cause him to run from you ; but 

 this will cause the slack part passing back 

 of the jaw to be tightened, and the colt will 

 thus be secured." 



The shoeing of vicious horses is often 

 found by the farrier anything but a safe 

 operation. We have frequently seen animals 

 lunge out very savagely, to the imminent 

 danger not only of the operator but of casual 

 standers-by. The following (fig. 2) engraving re- 

 presents a rack which effectually prevents the 

 most ill-tempered animal from injuring itself 

 or those about it. 



The animal is led into the frame, and se- 

 cured by hooking the harness to the hooks. 

 A forefoot is taken up and secured by the 

 strap to the post seen at the front. Bars 

 with bands passing beneath the horse, are 

 placed on each side, which may be elevated 

 until the beast is lifted off its feet and ren- 

 dered perfectly helpless, if needed. The 



hind feet may be fastened to the hind-posts 

 by straps, in case of a very vicious animal, 

 and the shoes nailed on while the blacksmith 

 is protected against any attempts at kicking, 

 and the beast cannot throw himself, being 

 supported by the frame and belly-bands. 



