426 THE SHOEING OF OXEN. 



of the two front posts is a neck piece (h) and breast piece,, 

 which by means of slots and iron pins may be raised or lowered. 

 Each of the two hind posts has at the back an iron bearer 18 

 inches in length (s), the free ends of which carry rings 6 inches 

 across {t). Through these a stout rod, padded at the centre, 

 may be thrust and fixed by two pins. Above this bearer are 

 two iron hooks for fixing the breeching. 



Before the animal is placed in the travis the neck piece is 

 raised, the breast piece depressed, and the belly piece allowed 

 to hang from the fixed cross piece. The animal is then placed 

 in position, a rope thrown over its horns and the end passed 

 over the pulley {i) fixed to the hook on the windlass and drawn 

 up sufficiently tight to fix the head. The neck piece and 

 breast piece are then respectively lowered and raised, the 

 breeching fastened -to the point marked v and the belly 

 piece attached to the axle, so that this latter may be drawn 

 far enough up, if necessary, to completely support the animal's 

 weight. 



The front feet durino; shoeinii; are fastened to the side bars 

 by means of a cord attached to the fetlock. The cord is passed 

 a few times round the bar and fixed to the hook {r). The 

 hind-feet are fastened by a slip-knot passed round the fetlock 

 and drawn up over the cross bar, so that the front surface of 

 the fetlock lies on the padded part of the bar, the foot being 

 fixed in this position by passing the cord a number of times 

 around the bar and there knotting it. 



When no travis is at hand one may be improvised out of 

 very simple materials, as, for instance, the waggon shown in 

 fig, 403.* The ox is fixed by the head to the side of the 

 waggon between the front and hind wheel. A strong bar is 

 then slipped under one hind leg and between the axle and 

 upright of the front wheel ; the opposite end of the bar is then 

 lifted until the animal is thrown somewhat towards the other side 

 and leans heavily on the pole. The pole can then be fastened 

 to the waggon by means of a rope and the outer leg lifted as 

 usual. In this way, with one assistant and without any par- 

 ticular difficulty, the most troublesome ox can be controlled. 



* Although this form of waggon is not used in England the illustration has 

 been inserted, as, with its assistance, a similar travis may readily be improvised, 

 though necessarily with different apj^aratus. 



