These are placed 18
in. apart in a central position on the horse. Make two parallel
saw cuts 2 in. apart, straight down in the round surface of the
horse until each cut is 9 in. long. Chisel out the wood between
the cuts and in the mortises thus made insert the hand holds. Each
hand hold is made of a 9-in. piece of 2 by 4-in. stud cut rounding
on one edge. These are well nailed in place.

The body of the horse is to be fastened on top of posts so that it
may be adjusted for height. It is not as difficult to make as the
horizontal and parallel bars. The material required is as follows:
Two posts, 4 in. square by 5 ft. long; 2 adjusting pieces, 2 by 4
in. by 3 ft. 3 in. long; 1 cross brace, 2 by 4 in. by 3 ft. long;
2 bases, 4 in. square by 5-1/2 ft. long; 4 knee braces, 2 by 4 in.
by 3 ft. long; two 1/2-in. bolts, 1 in. long, to fasten the knee
braces at the top; ten 1/2-in. bolts, 7 in. long, 4 to fasten the
knee braces at the bottom, 2 to fasten the cross brace and 4 to be
used in fastening the adjusting pieces to the posts.

To construct, layout the bases as shown in the drawing, making the
mortises to receive the bottom ends of the posts exactly in the
center, and cut a slanting mortise 6 in. from each end to receive
the ends of the knee braces. Bevel the ends of the knee braces and
fasten the upper ends of each pair to the post with one 9-in.
bolt. Fasten the lower ends to the base with the 7-in. bolts.

The upper end of each post should have 5/8-in. holes bored through
it parallel to the base at intervals of 3 in., beginning 1-1/2 in.
from the top and extending down its length for 2 ft. 4-1/2 in. The
adjusting pieces are to be bored in a similar manner after which
they are to be mortised into the under side of the horse top 15
in. from each end, and secured with screws put through the top and
into the end of the adjusting pieces.

The bases with their posts and knee braces are buried 2 ft. 4 in.
in the ground, parallel to each other and the same distance apart
as the adjusting pieces are mortised in the horse top. When the
ground has been filled in and tamped hard, the cross brace should
be bolted in position with its lower edge resting on the ground
and connecting the two posts.

The height of the horse from the ground is adjusted by changing
the bolts in the different holes connecting the two adjusting
pieces with the two posts. Much pleasant and healthful gymnastic
exercise can be had in competitive hors