194 THE HORSE 



and the sole remaining contents of the pages which were published by 

 Messrs. Routledge, and received with so much interest in this country, 

 were the directions for throwing the horse, and afterwards handling, or 

 "gentling" him, as the American operator calls the stroking the limbs, 

 which he always puts into practice after the horse is down. If this little 

 book had been published a few months earlier it would have entirely 

 destroyed the pecuniary prospects of the partners, but coming late as it 

 did, it prevented the payment of any more ten-guinea subscriptions, and 

 reduced the charge for the sight of the process to guinea and half-guinea 

 tickets for seats at the Alhambra. I shall, therefore, proceed to describe 

 the casting process, as witnessed by myself, and then examine into its 

 nature and effect upon the horse, whether in breaking or taming him. 



The apparatus which is required is, first of all, an ordinary snaffle or 

 straight bit in the mouth, without which nothing could be done with any 

 ^-icious horse ; and if any animal is to be " Rareyfied," the preliminary 

 operation is to get this into the mouth. Stafford was brought to Mr. Rarey 

 with the aid of guide-ropes, which were fastened to his head and held by 

 grooms on each side. In liim, therefore, this first essential point was 

 accomplished. Cruiser also had a halter, strengthened with iron, and in 

 him also there was a means of laying hold of the head, which was eagerly 

 seized by the operator. The plan adopted in his case was to fix an iron 

 staple to the door-post, and then running through this a strong leather 

 strap, to which a spring hook was attached, the opportunity was seized 

 when the horse came open-mouthed to the door, and he was securely laid 

 hold of and drawn up to the staple, so as to compel him to allow the 

 introduction of a bit. The grey colt at Mr. Anderson's was bitted ; but 

 the zebra was loose in his cage, and I do not at all know how the gag in 

 which he was exhibited was forced into his mouth, but I believe it was 

 effected by a rope thrown round his neck and drawn up to the bars of his 

 cage. 



The second part of the apparatus is the leg-strap for the near fore-leg, 

 being very similar to a stirrup-leather, which, with the addition of a strong 

 loop, can be made to answer the same purpose very well. Before applying 



rarey's leg -strap. 



this strap, which at once makes the horse harmless for offence, he must be 

 rendered approachable, which, in ordinary animals, is effected merely with 

 the aid of the bridle. In Stafford, however, as I before remarked, guide- 

 ropes were used ; and in the case of Cruiser, he was enticed up to a wagon 

 loaded with hay, under which was Mr. Rarey, and through the wheel of 

 which this leg-strap was quietly and cautiously buckled on his leg. As 

 soon as this is done the horse is innocent of all mischief except with his 



