656 OPEEATIONS. 



rope is then pulled so as to draw up the off hind foot ; and is 

 fastened to the collar. If necessary, its free end can be passed 

 over the off hock (as in Fig. 168, p. 659), so as to prevent the 

 animal from straightening his off hind leg. The great advantage 

 of this method is that the horse falls on the spot upon which he 

 stood. 



3. By hobbles, which, in their simplest form, are four strong 

 leather straps that are buckled to the pasterns. Each of them is 

 provided with an iron D for a rope or chain to pass through. One, 

 called the " main hobble,'' has a larger D than the others. 



To cast a horse on his right side, pass a loop of soft rope or 

 webbing over the near fore leg, leaving the free end to hang over 

 the animal's off shoulder. The main hobble is put on the near fore 

 leg (or on the off fore if the horse has to fall on the near side), 

 and the remaining three are put on the other legs, the buckles 

 being on the outside. One end of a rope or chain is made fast to 

 the D of the main hobble, its free end is passed through that of 

 the hind leg on the same side, and so on until it returns through 

 the D of the main hobble again. Two assistants hold this rope or 

 chain, while one seizes that which passes over the shoulder. A 

 steady pull on the hobble rope will bring all four feet together, 

 and one on the shoulder rope will serve to throw the horse on his 

 side. 



One foot may be released for an operation, by simply undoing 

 the buckle of that hobble. The horse in Fig. 168, has been cast 

 by hobbles. 



If, when the horse is on the ground, it is required, as for castra- 

 tion, to bring the uppermost hind foot forward, so as, for instance, 

 to expose the testicles, a loop of soft rope or webbing should be 

 placed over that leg just above the fetlock (Fig. 168). The free 

 end should be placed over the withers, underneath the base of the 

 neck, brought over the loop, and underneath and round .the gaskin 

 (just above the hock) of the uppermost hind leg. It should then 

 be brought across the belly of the horse, in an obliquely forward 

 direction, and held by an assistant. Another assistant should 

 catch hold of this rope (so as to be able to pull on it) as it comes 

 up from underneath the base of the neck. 



Before the horse is cast, his eyes should be covered with some 

 convenient cloth, or with leather eye guards made for the purpose. 

 At the moment of throwing him, an assistant should stand at his 

 head to steady it. "When the horse is on the ground an assistant 

 should hold his head down, and keep tis muzzle well forward. It 

 is also advisable to keep his tail straight out. The fact of having 

 the column of bones from his nose to the end of his tail in as 

 nearly a straight line as possible, will deprive him, to a great 



