144 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



The 



proper 



length for 



a head 



rope, 



however 



secured. 



round the picket line, and under itself (fig. 22). To free the knot, pull 

 the loose end. 



The proper' length for a head rope, however secured, is from the 

 lower ring of the backstrap to the ground, when the horse is "standing 

 up," with its head directly over the picket line or head peg, and no 

 longer. 



Fig. 21. 



Fig. 22. 



A. Free end of head rope. 



B. Head-rope leading to head collar. 

 c. Picket line. 



The heel 

 ropes. 



Requisite 

 spread of 



V, 



The heel ropes may be single or double. The object of a double heel 

 rope is to prevent a kicker striking the next horse, and can only be 

 effective if the V at the end of the rope is short enough to limit the play 

 of the legs as much as possible. If the V is long the animal is as 

 dangerous as ever. Lying down, getting up, and straddling to stale, are 

 the only necessary movements, and a V with a maximum spread of 

 about two feet is all that is required : if it is greater, the ropes should be 



