206 THE HORSE 



plan it is excellent training for any animal, whilst with a 

 vicious or an unruly horse it is invaluable. 



When a long-tailed colt is the subject it is an easy thing 

 to tie the halter rope to the long tail, and so make the 

 animal fast ; but with a short-docked horse it is not by any 

 means an easy matter to fasten a rope securely. The 

 simplest way is to attach a small rope to the few hairs which 

 are left on the tail, and then to tie this rope to the halter 

 rope. But no novice will be able to affix a rope to the hair 

 on his own initiative, and very few professed grooms know 

 in these days how to do it either. First of all the short 

 hairs must be made into a plait, and to do this requires 

 especial knowledge, for horsehair is so stiff and slippery it 

 is difficult to get it to remain in a plait. It will only do so 

 when mingled with something else— moistened straw will 

 do, or string, or like material ; and hence arose the custom 

 of parading horses for sale at fairs with straw standing out 

 from their plaited tails in ornamental patterns, since they 

 had been brought to the fair attached to side-lines. 



To plait the tail the hair must be divided into three locks, 

 the centre one, if possible, containing the most and longest 

 hairs. With each lock two or three straws should be 

 mingled, and then grasping the two outsides with either 

 hand cross first one and then the other underneath the 

 centre one, and then plait in the usual way. When the 

 plait is finished the straw will enable the end to be finished 

 off in a knot, if it is long enough, or else it may be bound 

 with string. 



The next thing is to attach the rope to the plait. Place 

 the plait over the rope at least half-way up (Plate XI., 

 Fig. 1), and turning it towards the ground double it back- 

 wards so that it secures the rope (Fig. 2) ; then grasp the 

 doubled plait with the right hand, and taking the left end 

 of the rope, bring it underneath the plait (Fig. 3) and make 

 at least four turns round it, working upwards and drawing 

 tight each lap. To finish off bring the top end of the rope 

 downwards and insert it under the first lap which was 

 made, the end pointing towards the ground (Fig. 4). 

 The long end, C, is then fastened to the halter-rope. 



