LIFTING UP HIND LEG. 133 



If the precaution of putting on the rope- twitch be taken, 

 no difficulty need be experienced in subsequently applying 

 the strait- jacket. 



LIFTING UP A HIND LEG. 



The usual " confidential " method for lifting up a horse's 

 hind leg, the near one for instance, is, while standing by the 

 side of the near quarter, to run the left hand down the limb, 

 take hold of the canon bone with the fingers pointing to the 

 rear (see Fig. 55), and pick the leg up. Or we may run the 



Fig. 54. Horse with strait-jacket on. 



right hand down the leg, place the flat of the hand on the 

 back tendons (see Fig. 56), and lift up the leg by drawing 

 it forward. If we have any doubt as to the steadiness 

 of the animal, we may, while standing clear of the forward 

 action of the hind leg in the event of the horse cow-kicking, 

 and while pressing the left fore arm against the quarter, 

 so as to avoid the chance of being struck, run our left hand 

 down the leg and catch the tendo Achillis (the hamstring), 

 our grip on which will more or less prevent the animal from 

 bending his hock and " lashing out " behind, if he is so in- 

 clined. We may then catch the pastern, back-handed, 



