HORSE SENSE. 187 



represented in cut No. 98, wliicli is done by tying the knot in the tail 

 as heretofore mentioned in handling the horse by his tail or rather, in 

 picketing the pair of horses. 



Take a small piece of rope about eight feet long and double it, 

 tying the double end into the tail so it can be easily untied. Tie the ends- 

 of the rope to each of the hame tugs or at the collar about even, so as. 

 to hold the tail just over the back, and draw down quite tight, so as to 

 make considerable strain on the cords of the tail, and to secure them 

 in place, it is a good plan to put a circingle over the ropes and fasten 

 around the body. 



MUSCLES TOO SORE FOR MUCH MOVEMENT OF THE TAIL. 



From half an hour to two hours is generally sufificient to remind 

 the horse that his tail is too much strained to do much of a job of 

 switching, and in this way he will often forget or quit the habit. 



CARE MUST BE TAKEN WITH THE NERVOUS MARE ABOUT 

 THE LINES AND TAIL. 



Too much care cannot be exercised in handling nervous mares 

 about the line getting under the tail, and whenever it happens to be 

 caught, either stop and remove it gently, or slacken the line so it will 

 drop irom under the tail. We cannot afford to jerk it out and take the 

 chances of spoiling an otherwise valuable animal. "An ounce of pre- 

 vention is worth a pound of cure." "A stitch in time saves nine." Toa 

 often we "lock the stable door after the horse is stolen. "For the want 

 of a nail the shoe is lost" — a yank at the line and a stroke of the whip 

 in haste, often gives room for repentance at leisure. 



