KICKING -STRAPS. 



1?1 



Fig. 229.— Stevens Horse after 

 being Subdued. 



Kicking-Straps. 



These straps should be cut at least two inches wide ; they 

 should be made of two thicknesses of good harness leather, sewed 

 together and fitted so they will come nicely around the leg between 

 the fetlock and gambrel. There should be 

 a strong wcought-iron D stitched on the 

 front sides. The irisides should be lined 

 with soft, thin leather, or buckskin/ to pre- 

 vent chafing the leg. If no Patent Bridle 

 is available, use a strong, well-fitting halter, 

 with the strap passing back between the 

 legs over the belly-band ; or it may be at- 

 tached to the belly-band by a piece of rub- 

 ber. Next, take a strong hempen cord, not 

 less than five eighths of an inch in diameter, 

 firmly wound, or a good piece of leather 

 made round like a rein, run it through a 

 pulley or ring attached to the halter-strap 

 a little back. of the belly-band, and extend 

 to the rings of the foot^straps. Thp point 

 is to have the rig so regulated that the position of the horse will 

 be perfectly natural in traveling ; but should, he run or kick, both, 

 legs coming back at once brings the whole fqrce directly upon the 

 nose. The straps should be kept on until the pain caused by the 

 kicking makes the horse so much afraid to kick that he will not re- 

 peat it. 



Sometimes the straps are connected with the bit so that the 

 horse will kick directly against the mouth. But this is objectionable 



becau§e-when the kicking is 

 severe against the mouth it 

 will be cut and bruised, be- 

 sides it is liable to break the 

 jaw. Even when kicking 

 against the nose, by the rer- 

 straint of the halter, there is 

 possible danger of injuring 

 the spinal cord at the junct- 

 ure of the head with the spinal 

 column. I never had an ac- 

 cident occur from such a 

 cause; though I used the treat- 

 Pia. 230.— The Ravenna Coll. ment a great deal in my early 



