STABLE MANAGEMENT. 75 



accident than ropes and straps, but they last a long time, which is their 



sole advantage. The proper length for a head collar chain, or any other Length of 



similar means of fastening, is the distance from the lower ring of the chains. 



backstrap of the head collar to the ground when the horse is standing 



upright. The chain is looped on to the ring just mentioned, and the 



other end which carries a " T " is passed through an iron " log." The The log. 



object of the log is, of course, to carry back the slack of the chain 



whenever it is drawn through the manger ring or hole, and so keep it 



taut ; but it is evident this action depends on the comparative weight of Weight of 



the chain and log respectively, and as the former not infrequently log and 



outweighs the latter, the result is that the log is unable to carry back the ^ ^^"' 



slack, and a long loop of chain is left hanging from the edge of the 



manger. Over this the horse not infrequently puts a fore-leg, occasionally Injuries 



a hind one, should he be engaged in scratching his ear at the moment ^"f ^? 



the loop is hanging. When the head is raised the chain is tightened, and '^ '^^^' 



finding himself a fixture the animal struggles, gets cast, and may do 



himself severe injury. It should, therefore, be determined by actual test 



that each log is sufficiently heavy to easily pull back the entire length of 



chain in whatever position it may be. Usually the chain runs through a Bar 



hole in the manger and drops to the floor, but a far better arrangement fastening 



is to attach it to a bar running from the edge of the manger to the floor '^ . ^" 



or wall behind. On this bar a ring, of sufficient diameter to slide easily, 



is welded, and to it is fastened one end of a two feet six inch chain, the 



other being attached to the head collar. This arrangement, as will be 



readily seen, permits the necessary freedom of movement as the ring 



slides up and down the bar, and at the same time obviates any slackness 



of the chain no matter what the position of the animal's head may be. 



Ropes a7id straps^ with wooden logs, though they do not last so long Ropes and 

 as chains, have much to recommend them, and of the two, ropes are to be straps, 

 preferred. They are comparatively noiseless, much lighter, and not so ^^'^^, 

 likely to be a source of accident, as their lightness causes the slack to |^°° ^" 

 run back more easily. A rope, well-tarred or soaked in creosote, is best, 

 as horses and mules are less likely to chew it than either new hemp or 

 leather. 



Double ropes are sometimes attached to each side of the head collar, Double 

 instead of the usual single one from the back strap, and this method is ropes are 

 useful if it is desired to confine the horse to one side of the stall, for by sometimes 

 shortening one of them, he will be compelled to stand on that side. 



Pillar reins or chains are attached to the back of the stall posts, .and Pillar 

 are very useful for cribbers and windsuckers, or for the temporary i*eins or 

 accommodation of horses which it is not desired to feed. They should not ^ ^^'"^- 



