TAKING UP A HIND LEG. 135 



inflicted by us on the horse, the moment he 

 yields to our wishes. I need hardly say, that if 

 the horse overpowers the grip of our hands on 

 his hind-leg, and kicks out behind, he can do us 

 no harm, for we are then in front of his hind-leg. 

 If the animal will not submit, we should apply 

 the rope-twitch (see page 113); and, by its aid, and 

 a little " gentling," proceed as before described. 



2. In order to " gentle" the hind limb, or 

 to take it up and let it down at will, while 

 maintaining complete control over it, we may 

 proceed as follows : Put on, say, the near hind 

 pastern, a hobble with a D attached to it. 

 Take a strong cord about 20 ft. long, and tie 

 with it a " double sheet bend " (see Fig. 30) 

 to the end of the tail, in the middle of the cord. 

 Pass one end through the D to the near side, 

 the other end through it to the off side, and give 

 the respective ends to an assistant on each side to 

 hold (see Fig. 31). These men should stand at 

 right angles to the horse, and can lift the leg by 



