206 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



It is desirable, if not frequently essential to safety, that 

 special conveniences for restraint be provided for this pur- 

 pose. They should consist ordinarily of a strong, solid wall 

 about three feet high and ten to twelve feet long, with a 

 rather broad and rounded top. The chief object of the struc- 

 ture is the avoidance of kick wounds which may be inflicted 

 upon the stallion by the mare. To this end it should be 

 merely of sufficient height to guard against such an acci- 

 dent and sufficiently resistant that the mare can not kick 

 through it. A single pole to separate the stallion and the 

 mare is insecure and hazardous, as either may kick through 

 beneath it and injure the other. 



It is highly essential that the top of the structure be 

 rounded, smooth, and free from projections. Either the 

 mare or stallion may get beyond the control of the groom 

 and kick or leap upon the structure. The wall should be low 

 enough that either animal, getting upon it by rearing or 

 kicking, may readily free itself without injury. I once at- 

 tended a stallion, which, having passed beyond the control 

 of the groom, reared to mount the mare and became im- 

 paled upon a projecting post at one end of the structure, 

 causing a serious hernia and almost eventration. Posts 

 should not extend above the top of the structure or, doing 

 so, should continue so high as to make injury in this manner 

 impossible. 



A. Kicks and Fractures 



When this preparatory period has been passed and copula- 

 tion has been decided upon, there arise fresh dangers to the 

 stallion from kicks by the mare while approaching her or in 

 the act of mounting. Two methods of avoiding accidents 

 at this point are used — without and with hobbles. In the 

 first method, when both stallion and mare are well broken 

 and controllable and competent grooms have each well in 

 hand, the stallion should be caused to approach the mare's 

 head, and then allowed to mount from the side instead of 

 from the rear. If both are kept well in hand, any attempt 

 to kick on the part of the mare should be at once counter- 



