GROOMING, STABLE GEAR, ETC. 71 



never think necessary. I, however, prefer those 

 made out of plaited hemp or tow. They are merely 

 a band of loosely plaited tow, about eighteen inches 

 long, the heel rope being fastened to one end, 

 and secured by a string or tape just behind the 

 fetlock ; they are much softer than the leather ones, 

 and quite as strong. The disadvantage, however, is 

 that they soon wear out, but they are very cheap ; 

 in fact, the " syces " can make them themselves out 

 of the raw hemp or tow (sun). They are used 

 by many of the native cavalry regiments in India 

 in preference to the leather ones. The heel ropes 

 can be made out of one long rope doubled, a " muz- 

 zuma " fastened to each free end, and the doubled 

 portion to a tent-peg. When heel ropes are used, 

 one should be put on each hind leg ; it is dangerous 

 to only put on one, and I have seen more than 

 one fractured thigh caused by this. If the heel 

 ropes are on both hind legs, and the horse kicks, 

 he has to do so straight into the air, as there is 

 equal restraint on both ; but if there is only one, 

 the unequal check of the single rope is likely to 

 cause a fracture. If allowed, " syces " will always 

 pull the heel ropes so tight as to stretch the horse 

 out ; they should be loose enough to allow him to 

 stand in a natural position. 



