LIFTING FORE- AND HIND-LIMBS. 



15 



To prevent striking out with the fore-feet a foot may be hfted or 

 both legs fastened together above the knees. Another plan is to pass 

 a cord or strap several times around 

 the forearms and fasten it to the 

 surcingle. Some foreign operators 

 fasten the fore-limb to the hind limb 

 of the same side by a cord passed 

 round the pasterns (Fig. 26). This 

 prevents the horse striking out, but 

 may cause a severe fall should it 

 struggle. There are several methods 

 of holding up a hind foot. A loop 

 of cord may be passed round the 

 neck and one of the free ends carried 

 along the back as far as the root of 

 the tail, around which a turn is taken ; 

 the rope is then passed once around 

 the pastern of the hind foot to be 

 held up. The horse is thus forced 

 to bear a great part of any strain he 

 may put on the limb. This is a 

 simpler but not a better method than 

 that of Hann, who carries a cord from a ring fixed to the top of the sur- 

 cingle, first over the back and croup, then through a crupper and through 



Fig. 27. — Pulling up and fixing a hind 

 foot for operation. 



Fig. 28. — The Hippo-lasso. 



the ring of a hobble attached to the pastern, returning once more through 

 the crupper. By drawing on the free end of the cord the foot is raised 



