72 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



Head Ropes (aghari). 



Head ropes should be fastened to the ring on 

 the head collar (nukta) under the chin. There 

 should either be two separate ropes, one end of 

 each fastened to the ring, or one long one doubled 

 in the middle, the central portion fastened to the 

 ring, and the two ends to two wooden pegs driven 

 into the ground about three or four feet on each side 

 of the horse's head. If only a single rope is used, it 

 must, naturally, be fastened to a peg straight in front, 

 and, to allow the horse to move his head up and 

 down, must be loose. When fastened in this way 

 he is exceedingly likely to get his fore leg over the 

 rope and get hung up in it, a nasty wound in the 

 heel or at the back of the knee being the result, if 

 nothing worse ; whereas, if the ropes are pegged out 

 on each side, he can move about freely, and it would 

 be difficult for him to get his leg over them. Both 

 head and heel ropes should be made of hemp ; the 

 cotton rope used in India for most purposes is not 

 strong enough, and soon breaks and wears out. In 

 Peshawur and along the north-west frontier, a rope 

 is made of goat hair that is very strong, and is 

 excellent for this purpose. It is somewhat more 

 expensive than ordinary rope, but with care will last 



