 The cows were held in a yard at the open side and when they were about to be milked they were positioned in one of the bails (stalls).Usually the cows were restrained in the bail with a breech chain and a rope to restrain the outer back leg.The cow could not move about excessively and the milker could expect not to be kicked or trampled while sitting on a (three-legged) stool and milking into a bucket.