SUSPENDING A FORE-LEG. 105 



that the employment of the small loop may be 

 dispensed with, and the leg-strap passed through 

 the surcingle, or girth. 



This method of suspending the leg is most 

 useful, when gentling the fore-limb, and when 

 shoeing a '' difficult " animal ; as the foot can be 

 retained at any convenient height from the ground 

 without irritating the horse, and, consequently, 

 without inciting him to '' fight." 



I have learned, on more than one occasion, by 

 bitter experience, that it is possible for a horse to 

 effectually cow-kick with the hind-leg of the side 

 on which a fore-leg is tied up. 



A stirrup leather, with two or three holes 

 punched at convenient distances, will make a 

 capital leg-strap (see Fig. 16). It has the advan- 

 tage of having, at the back of the buckle, no 

 leather keeper, which is always liable to give 

 way, by reason of the strain exerted on it. 



For suspending a fore-leg, we need punch no 

 extra holes in the leather, if we take, as before 



