The Groiving Stock 309 



usually very severe, and many of the best horse trainers 

 will not use them on this account. These methods will 

 master a horse, but unless the horse-man uses good judg- 

 ment, they may break the horse's spirit. One of the most 

 useful of these devices is known as the Rarey Tackle. 

 This is made by using a surcingle of heavy leather which 

 has three strong rings attached three inches apart under 

 the chest. Two heavy straps with rings inserted are 

 made to buckle around the pastern of each of the fore- 

 legs. Then a light three-eighths-inch rope is used in lacing 

 this arrangement up, starting on one of the outside rings, 

 running the free end down to the foot, back to the middle 

 ring, down to the other foot, and back and tie to the third 

 ring. The free end of the rope comes back so as to be of 

 sufficient length that the man handling the horse can hold 

 it without getting close to the horse's heels. This tackle 

 should only be used on soft ground unless the horse is 

 protected on the knees by heavy pads, as the throwing of 

 the horse on hard ground would injure the knees. These 

 tackles should not be used to throw the animal suddenly, 

 but the restraint should be put upon him gradually. If 

 the horse refuses to be controlled by the halter or guy 

 rope, then the pressure should be put upon the fore legs, 

 throwing him to the knees and to the ground, where he 

 should be held until he gives up. Then he should be 

 allowed to get up, and if he will not do as desired, it will 

 be necessary to put him down again. After a horse has 

 been thrown once or twice in this manner, a slight pressure 

 upon these ropes, showing him that they are still present 

 and may be used, is all that is usually necessary. They 

 are very often used upon single drivers that are incontrol- 

 lable otherwise, and especially if they are addicted to 

 backing or whirling. 



