Casting animals: Horses

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The following methods are employed for casting horses: 

(a) the use of side lines (single as well as double)

(b) the use of hobbles

Single side lines: Cotton web is ideal for a good side line. A slipping knot is made at the pastern. The side line is then passed between the forelegs, and the free end taken round the neck, brought up over the shoulder to the near side, and a knot applied near the elbow drawing the hind leg a little bit forward.

Double side lines: A slipping knot is made at the near hind pastern, the knot being on the outside. The side line is then passed between the forelegs and given a turn. The free end is then passed under the previous turn of the side line and passed over the shoulder onto the off side. The side line is then wound round the off forelimb in a similar fashion as was done on the near side, and then it is passed around the pastern and a knot tied on the outside. Both the hind legs are brought slightly forward during the operations.

Hobbles: Hobbles are used for heavy draught horses. A set of four hobbles with a chain about 3 m long is used. Attached to this is an approximately 5 m long rope with a spring "D"-catch. One of the hobbles, the "master hobble", has an arrangement by which the chain is screwed on to it.

Hobbles (Courtesy: chestofbooks.com)

The hobbles should first be laid out, each in its right position, and then placed on the horse. If the horse is to be east on the right side, the master hobble is attached to the left fore-pastern. A rope is slipped round the upper arm of the foreleg which is to be uppermost, and passed over the withers to the assistant standing on the other side whose task is to pull the animal on to the required side. As soon as the hobbles are adjusted, the person at the head backs the horse quickly. At the same time, the hobbles are pulled together, and the person holding the rope over the withers pulls the horse over. As soon as the operation is finished, the hobbles must be taken off with the horse still lying down. 

Use of Tranquilizers before casting: 

Very vicious and highly nervous large animals can be calmed before casting by administering tranquilizers such as "Largactal" (tm) or other chlorpromazine compounds, or depressants such as chloral hydrate or barbiturates. The drugs minimize struggling and make application of ropes and appliances easier. The narcosis or sub-narcosis attained should not be so great as to leave the animal weary for a long time.

For cattle and buffalo, chloral hydrate is most common drug used since it is cheap, efficient and can be easily administered orally as a drench or electuary in drinking water. The dose varies from 15 - 45 g for cattle and 2 - 4 g for sheep, depending upon the size of animal. The animal should be fasted for 18 - 24 hours before administering the drug, which is done about one hour before the actual handling of the animal.

A presentation about casting horses for different purposes can be viewed here.

Casting animals

Precautions before casting:

1. Fast an animal for up to 12 hours before casting. If the animal has a full stomach, it may rupture during casting.
2. There should be sufficient labor available to complete the manoeuvre in the shortest time with the least distress to the animal. It is necessary to have a reliable person at the animal's head in order to control it. Depending upon the size of the animal that must be cast, either two or three persons are needed to pull on the rope.
3. The site for casting should be chosen carefully. The best choice is a well=grassed field where there is sufficient space and no objects which could cause injury. In bad weather a barn is suitable. There should be plenty of clean straw put down to make the animal's fall as comfortable as possible.
4. A strong webbing halter or head collar must be used. There must not be a bit in the horse's mouth and any twitch that has been used in adjusting ropes must be removed.
5. Any operations on the feet necessitate the removal of shoes. This is particularly necessary if hobbles are to be used in casting.

Casting Cattle and Buffaloes:

Methods of casting animals (Courtesy: geutenberg.org)

Cattle and buffaloes are cast for a variety of reasons: surgical operations, trimming of feet, and better control at a difficult calving. The most common and efficient method of cassting cattle and buffaloes is Reuff's method. 

Reuff's method of casting cattle and buffaloes minimized the chances of injuring either the animal or people attending it. A running noose is made at one end of a 10 m long rope and passed around the base of the horns. In the case of polled animals, the noose can be placed around the neck. A half hitch is made around the neck, the second around the heart girth, and passed back and looped around the animal just behind the hip bones. A steady pull on the free end will cause the animal to collapse slowly. It is advisable to cast the animal on soft grass or a bed of hay or straw.

An alternative method is shown in figure, in which middle of the rope is placed over the neck and the ends passed between the front legs. They cross under the brisket, are passed upward and crossed over the back and then downwards past the flanks and between the hind legs. Traction on the free ends will then cause the animal to collapse. The ropes must cross under the brisket (Not on the throat), or the animal will not go down.

One great advantage of the latter method is that, because there are no knots involved, it is easier to remove the rope when you are finished with the animal. With Reuff's method, the rope tends to stay in a better position. This is an advantage when casting wild or excited cattle because the rope can be put on in the crush. The animal is then let out of the crush and the process of casting can begin.

Casting is not recommended for pregnant animals because of the possibility of abortion. It can also result in bloat, pneumonia, or displacement of the abomasum.