THE USE OF HOBBLES FOE HIND-LEGS. 83 



The last instance of Mr. Karey's power was a beauti- 

 ful gray mare, which had been fourteen years in the 

 band of one of the Life Guards regiments, and conse- 

 quently at least seventeen years old ; during all that 

 time she would never submit quietly to have her hind- 

 legs shod ; the farriers had to put a twitch on her nose 

 and ears, and tie her tail down : even then she resisted 

 violently. In three days Mr. Rarey was able to shoe her 

 with her head loose. And this was not done by a trick, 

 but by proving to her that she could not resist even to 

 the extent of an inch, and that no harm was meant her ; 

 her lessons were repeated many times a day for three 

 days. Such continual impressive perseverance is an 

 essential part of the system. 



When you have to deal with a horse as savage a kicker 

 as Cruiser, or the zebra, a horse that can kick from one 

 leg as fiercely as others can from two, in that case, to sub- 

 due and compel him to lie down, have a leather surcingle 

 with a ring sewed on the belly part, and when the hob- 

 bles are buckled on the hind-legs, pass the ropes through 

 the rings, and when the horse rises again, by buckling 

 up one fore-leg, and pulling steadily, when needful, at 

 the hind-legs, or tying the hobble-ropes to a collar, you 

 reduce him to perfect helplessness ; he finds that he 

 cannot rear, for you pull his hind-legs or kick, for you 

 can puh 1 at all three legs, and after a few lessons he 

 gives in in despair. 



These were the methods by which Cruiser and the 

 zebra were subdued. They seem, and are, very simple ; 

 properly carried out they are effective for subduing the 

 most spirited colt, and curing the most vicious horse. 

 But still in difficult and exceptional cases it cannot be 

 too often repeated that a MAN is required, as well as a 

 method. Without nerve nothing can be attempted; 



