Among Horses in India. 17 



ranks they are usually very gentle and good-natured, and, as 

 a rule, the higher the caste the more quiet an Arab is. 



Heel-ropes certainly prevent many kicks ; but they are 

 used to an unnecessary extent, being in some regiments and 

 batteries placed upon all the horses, even on those which are 

 never known to kick. 



"When any horses have their places in the lines changed, it 

 is well to secure their hind-legs for a few days, until they 

 and their neighbours become accustomed to each other ; but 

 if they appear to be perfectly friendly, the ropes may be dis- 

 continued with little risk, and with a great increase of 

 comfort for the animals. 



With regard to those horses upon which the heel-ropes are 

 kept permanently, constant watchfulness is required, in order 

 that they may stand and lie down with ease. Many saises 

 take an extraordinary delight in making both head and heel 

 ropes so short that the horses can scarcely move a foot to the 

 right or left, and they will sometimes shorten the ropes con- 

 trary to orders after the Europeans have left the stables. 

 Horses may be seen with their heads tied down below the 

 natural height, and with their hind-legs stretched far back- 

 wards. Without doubt very short heel-ropes are one cause 

 of ring-bones, and of sprains in the hocks and loins. 



Both head and heel ropes are fastened to strong pegs 

 driven ten or twelve inches into the ground. 



Picketing -without Pegs. 



I wiU here describe a method of fastening which it may be 

 useful to know if you ever happen to be without picketing- 

 pegs. I was shown it by some natives, and found that the 

 plan answered perfectly with six hundred horses of which 

 I was in charge, with only one European assistant, during a 

 seven weeks' march. 



With the small spud, called kurpa, used by grass-cutters, 

 make a hole about three inches in diameter, and eight to 

 twelve inches deep, according to the hardness, or otherwise, of 

 the ground. Tie a knot at the end of the rope, and drop this 

 to the bottom of the hole, then fill in with earth, ramming it 



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