CASTING. 563 



dangers incurred by forcing the horse to the ground. Mr. 

 Bracy Clark simphfied casting, by inventing some patent 

 hobbles, having a running chain instead of rope, and which, 

 by a shifting D, made the loosening of all the hobbles, for 

 the purpose of getting at a particular leg, unnecessary. 

 These were still further improved by Mr. Budd, so as to 

 render a release from all the hobbles at once practicable. 

 Hobble leathers and ropes should be kept supple and pliant 

 with oil, and ought to be always examined previous to 

 using ; nor should the D or ring of the strap be of any 

 other metal than iron. Brass, however thick, is brittle, 

 and not to be depended on. To the D or ring of one pas- 

 tern hobble, a chain of about four feet long is attached ; to 

 this a strong rope is well fastened, and, according to the 

 way the horse is to be thrown, this hobble is to be fixed 

 on the fore foot of the contrary side : the rope is then 

 passed from the hobble on the fore foot to the D of the 

 hind foot of that side, then to the other hind foot, and, 

 lastly, through the D of the other fore foot. After this, 

 much of the ease and safety of the throw depend on bring- 

 ing the legs as near together as possible. This should be 

 done by gradually moving them nearer to each other, with- 

 out alarming the horse ; which will very much facilitate the 

 business, and is really of more moment than is generally 

 imagined. A space sufficiently large should be chosen for 

 the purpose of casting, as some horses struggle much, and 

 throw themselves with great violence a considerable way to 

 one side or the other ; and they are able to do this if the 

 feet have not been brought near together previous to attempt- 

 ing the cast. The place should be also very well littered 

 down. The legs having been brought together, the as- 

 sistants must act in concert ; one particularly should be 

 placed at the head, which must be carefully held through- 

 out by means of a strong snaffle bridle ; another should be 

 at the hind part to direct the fall, and to force the body of 

 the horse to the side which is requisite. Pursuing these 

 instructions, the animal may be at once rather let down 

 than thrown, by a dexterous and quick drawing of the rope ; 

 the whole assistants acting in concert. The moment the 

 horse is down, the person at the head must throw himself 

 upon that member, and keep it secure ; for all the efforts of 



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