136 Ho7'ses on Boaj'd Ship. 



breast-board (Fig. i, p. 19). The best way 

 for making this attachment is by means of 

 spring hooks fixed to the tying-up ropes, 

 which can thus be kept at their proper 

 length, even when the spring hooks are dis- 

 connected from their rings. If spring hooks 

 are not used, the ropes can be tied to the 

 rings by means of a round turn and two 

 half hitches (Fig. 19), which will not be so 

 liable to become undone as a slippery hitch 

 (Fig. 20), and will be more easy to undo 

 than a clove hitch (Fig. 21), in the event of 

 the rope being drawn tightly, as would occur 

 if the horse got down in his stall. 



The advantage of keeping the tying-up 

 ropes at a fixed length by means of spring 

 hooks, is emphasised by the fact that these 

 ropes have to be disconnected from their 



