78 



KICKING STRAPS. 



Kicking straps if properly put on, are powC-rful means of 

 reproof upon the kicker. I have had excellent success with 

 this means years ago. They will not work well on a slow 

 determined horse, and in any event should be kept on until 

 all desposition to resist is overcome. 



KICKING STBAPS. 



Have made four straps, like common hame straps; two 

 long enough to buckle around the hind legs above the 

 gambrels, and two a little shorter, so as to be in proportion, 

 to buckle around just below 

 the gambrel. The straps 

 should be an inch and a 

 quarter wide, good thick 

 leather, and the buckles 

 should be heavy. Now have 

 made two D's, just twice as 

 long as the straps are wide. 

 This D should have the 

 straight part a little round- 

 ing, and the corners not 

 quite to a sharp point. Put 



a long and short strap on each D, and buckle them around 

 the hind legs of the horse; the long strap above and the 

 short one below the gambrel, bringing the D in front of the 

 leg. These we designate kicking straps. 



Put a strong well-fitting rope halter on the head, tie a 

 strong two-inch ring on the end of the hitching part, which 

 should be of a length to extend between the fore-legs, over 

 md just back of the belly band. Then take a piece of 

 strong manilla rope, long enough to extend from the ring 

 on the end of the halter back to each hind leg. Pass the 

 end of this through the ring to the center, and tie each end 

 carefully into the D's on the straps, the whole so arranged 

 in length that the horse can travel easily and naturally. 

 Now as soon as the horse kicks, the most severe punishment 

 must result upon the nose. If the horse is sulky the con- 

 nection may be made direct to the bit; there is however 

 danger if the horse kicks recklessly, if so attached, of greatly 

 bruising the mouth, or of even breaking the jaw; have 

 known too such results from this cause, hence I have dis 



