354 



DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



made to pull the rope.* The horse should liuve blhids, or have 

 his eyes covered with a piece of rug, before the holjbles are put 

 on: it may be necessary, also, to twitch him, and hold up the 

 fore leg while the hind leg hobble is putting on. But the twitch 

 must be removed before he is thrown, and not used unless 

 absolutely necessary. The men who are to pull the rope should 

 stand within two yards of the horse, as they then pull with 



Lave found it more convenient to have one of the long D's made open at the 

 curvature, and its end tapped for the screw, with its head downwards, as in 

 the diasiram. 



a. Strap-end ; the square attached. two ends of the D being connected to- 



l. Buckle and D attached. gether by iron on the left of the screw. 



c, Buckle with o])en D. This would d, The hook, 

 be improved and strengthened by the 



" This hobble I always place on the near fore leg, and it matters not which 

 side the horse lies upon after the operation, as the thumb-screw is removed 

 with more ease than from the cottrell. The hook for securing I have made 

 with a spring; and there is no necessity for a small chain attached to it. 

 These hobbles have been still further improved by Mr. Bowles, the long D's 

 being placed on the long strap of two of the hobbles for the off fore and hind 

 legs in the place of the squares, by which means the chain will pass easier 

 and the buckles be on the outside. 



" From the description of these hobbles, it must be evident that they can 

 be placed on the legs and removed with the greatest facility, and any leg that 

 may be required can be unloosed by means of the buckle during the operation. 

 Mr. Gloag advises the chain to be two and a half yards long, so that there 

 may be no impediment to the passage through the D's by the jjlace of junction 

 between the rope and the chain. Mr. Daws, on the other hand, jnefers one 

 of eighteen inches only. It is a matter of little importance which plan is 

 adopted." — Spooner on the Foot. 



Mr. Bowles has constructed a new set of hobbles, to which he has given 

 the name of Cross Hobbles. They are for firing horses while standing, 

 shoeing vicious animals, docking, and various other purposes, for which they 

 will be found extremely useful. They consist of a neck collar, to which is 

 attached a broad leather strap, passing between the fore legs. A surcingle is 

 passed over tlie withers, embracing this strap, which reaches beyond the 

 mnbilicus; a D buckle is attached, with which are connected two chains 

 about fourteen inches in length. These terminate in two D's to which leather 

 straps are allixed for the purpose of buckling, either below or above the 

 hocks, thus confining the animal. — Veterinarian, vol. xiii. 



* It is advisable to place flannel bandages on the legs of light or well bred 

 horses, in order to prevent the skin from being injured by the hobbles. — Ed. 



