INTKODUCTION. 



43 



wait until he lifts it willingly by the use of gentle means. Do not get 

 out of temper if you have to make a dozen ineffectual attempts to raise 

 it. The near fore-leg being securely strapped, and the horse secured 

 from biting, if necessary, with the wooden bit, you will then make him 

 hop about, as before stated. This he will learn to do easily. The trainer 

 must, however, take care to keep behind his horse's shoulder and walk 

 in a circle, or he will be likely to be struck by the animal's head or 

 strapped up leg. 



A horse can hop on three legs for two or three miles, if you give him 

 his own time, and no plan that has ever been tried is equal to this for 

 curing a kicking or balky horse. After you have tired him out pretty 



Fig. 55. 

 Rarey's Strap No. 2. 



well in this manner, you proceed to make him lie down, which process 

 requires considerable patience and skill. For this purpose take strap No. 

 2 (Fig. 55), and making a loop with it put it round the off fore leg. 

 With a veTy quiet horse this can easily be done ; with a wild or vicious 

 horse you may have to make him step into it ; at any rate, when once 

 the off fore-leg is caught in the noose it must be drawn tight round the 

 pastern-Joint. Then put a stout glove on your right hand, pass the strap 

 through the belly part of the surcingle, take a firm short hold of it with 

 your gloved right hand, standing close to the horse behind his shoulders, 

 and with your left hand take hold of the near rein ; by pulling the horse 

 gently to the near side he will be almost sure to hop ; if he will not, he 

 mast be led. The moment he lifts up his off fore-foot, you must draw 

 up strap No. 2 tightly and steadily. The horse will then go down on 

 his knees (Fig. 56), for if you hold the strap tight he will not be able to 

 stretch out his foot again. As soon as a horse recovers from his astonish- 



