160 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



OPERATIONS. 



There are many operations to which the horse is sub- 

 jected from necessity, as in cases of disease, mortifica- 

 tion, or other affections ; these may be ranked as fol- 

 lows : — 



Bleeding , — Blistering , — Cropping, — Firing , — and the 

 application of Roiuels and Setons. But there are other 

 operations which modern taste and fashion have deemed 

 necessary for his beauty, and these are Docking and 

 Nicking. To these we must add the custom of Cas- 

 trating or Gelding. 



As some of these operations are liable to give the 

 animal excessive pain, it is necessary that he should 

 be bound or confined in such a manner that the per- 

 sons around can act without fear of injury, and the 

 horse may not be damaged or rendered less valuable 

 by any mischief or hurt to which he might be sub- 

 jected by any struggles during the operation. 



When a horse is to be thrown and confined, the 

 term applied is casting, which is thus performed. — 

 Having prepared a thick bed of straw about eight or 

 ten feet square, the hobbles are fixed on each foot, and 

 the cord which passes through the ring of each strap 

 to the foot is then pulled ; this draws the legs close 

 together, and a man being stationed at the head, and 

 another at the haunch, the horse is gradually brought 

 to the ground on whichever side is wished. It is how- 

 *5ver necessary to remark that no great violence should 

 be used in pulling the rope, for if the shock be too 

 sudden, notwithstanding the thickness or quantity 

 of the litter, the fall may cause some accident. The 

 head should be held as soon as the horse is down, and 

 the eyes ought to be covered, at the same time the cord 



