CASTING HORSES. . 29 



may be fixed by forming a slip-knot as close as possible to the hobbles 

 and passing a bundle of straw through the loop. The person at the 

 horse's head must take care that the animal does not succeed in 

 bending its head towards its chest and arching its neck, because this 

 attitude, which facilitates contraction of the great muscles of the 

 back and quarters, is often responsible for fractures of the vertebrae. 

 To retain the head extended Bernadot and Butel invented an 

 apparatus consisting of a strong head-collar, from which powerful 

 straps run backwards above the neck, and are attached on either 

 side to a ring in the surcingle. The surcingle is prevented from 

 slipping forward by the use of a crupper. The apparatus is applied 



Fig. 46.— Method of casting as adopted at the Stuttgart Veterinary School. 



loosely before casting, and the straps tightened after the animal is 

 on the ground. 



The releasing of an animal depends on the method employed for 

 casting. Most hobbles are arranged so that all four feet are 

 immediately loosened by withdrawing the screw-key of the master 

 hobble, but where no such arrangement exists the fore and hind 

 feet of the lower side should first be set free, and then those of the 

 upper side. The assistants sitting on the shoulder and haunch 

 should not move until the man in charge of the bridle is quite 

 prepared for the animal's rising, and the word of command has been 

 given. Should the fore-quarters be on a lower level than the hind, 

 or the back lower than the feet, the horse may have difficulty in 

 rising. In such case the fore-feet must be drawn out in front of 



