178 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



ing it, as the consequences are more frequently fatal 

 in this than in docking ; and the animal ought to be 

 more safely secured, as the pain is much more severe 

 than in the last instance. As before observed, the tail 

 has three different sets of muscles ; one set is used to 

 raise it, the second to depress it, and the third to give 

 it that lateral motion we observe when the animal 

 whisks it from side to side : the second and third sets, 

 however, are sometimes used conjunctively, and then 

 the erector, or first set of muscles, have not sufficient 

 power to counterbalance the effects of the depressor 

 and lateral muscles, consequently the tail, except when 

 the horse is excited, is usually found resting near the 

 buttocks. It is to give him that elevation of the tail 

 which we observe in the horse when his passions are 

 roused, that the operation of Nicking is performed, 

 and this is to cut through the depressor and some 

 of the lateral muscles, and the erector muscles can 

 then bring the tail to a position more or less elevated, 

 according- to the depth of incision on the former 

 muscles. 



The tail of some horses, rising high out of the back, 

 have naturally an elegant and beautiful sweep, and do 

 not require nicking. But there are, on the other hand, 

 horses which invariably have a sluggish appearance, 

 and carry the tail incessantly downwards, unless much 

 excited, and the operation of nicking is always found 

 to improve the appearance of these, although the tail 

 in this case, which is either carried in a straight line 

 or has a slight curve upwards, is never so handsome 

 as when naturally elevated. 



Having carefully secured the horse, m some instances 

 it is deemed necessary to cast him, as the safety of the 

 operator is greatly at stake from the severity of the 

 incision ; then grasp the tail, and about three or four 



