ON SLINGS AND SLINGING. 
805 
where a hole should be pierced to receive the lower hook of 
the pulley. Each end should also be tapered and curved in 
the form of a hook to suspend the eyes of the belly-band ; its 
length in a straight line from hook to hook should be about 
two feet six inches. 
The outside of the girth, where it is adjacent to the ribs, 
should be covered with leather, to strengthen it for the 
attachment of the buckles, of which six should be fastened to 
it, three directed forwards, and three backwards. It is also a 
great advantage if, instead of having the buckles separately 
attached, they are connected by being fastened to the ends of 
a strap sewn along the width of the girth, as is represented in 
the drawing in the case of the top pair of buckles only. This 
arrangement gives additional security and strength by indirectly 
joining the breast band to the posterior one. 
The band which passes round the front of the chest to keep 
the girth in its place, and the horse from getting out of the 
slings, should be made of thick leather, well padded. It 
should be about six inches wide and three feet long, and 
made to fasten by two straps to the buckles on the girth. The 
band passing round the quarters should also be made of stout 
leather, well padded, and attached by three straps in the 
same manner as the breast band — about four feet is the length 
it will be required, and it should be quite ten inches in width, 
as the horse sometimes hangs back, and rests a great deal of 
weight upon it : both this and the breast-band can be 
regulated according to the size of the horse by the straps and 
buckles. The straps which pass upwards to keep these bands 
in position should be fastened by buckles to their upper edges, 
and it is as well to have them padded where they rest on the 
withers and sacrum ,* it is necessary also to have another strap 
attached by a buckle to the top part of the hip strap, with a 
ring at its other end to pass over the lower hook of the pulley — 
this will prevent the latter strap from slipping downwards and 
backwards. The description here given will he more clearly 
understood on reference to the woodcut. It is in the pulley 
apparatus that the greatest improvement has taken place, 
through which much time and labour have been saved in the 
process of raising and securing the slings. 
In the drawing alluded to, in ‘Percivall’s Hippopathology,’ 
a double set of pulleys are represented, one being required for 
each end of the girth, but by the introduction of the cross-bar, 
which connects these two ends, and keeps them the proper 
distance apart, one set of pulleys and ropes is sufficient. 
Latterly, instead of .the ordinary pulley blocks and ropes, 
£ Weston’s Patent ’ pulley apparatus has been employed, 
xliii. 53 
