Reminds me of the Irishman trying to coax a donkey under a stone bridge. The donkey refused to go any further as soon as it's ears touched the underside of the stonework. Paddy quickly decided to chisel two grooves through the stone to clear the donkey's ears. His mate Shaun came along and suggested he should just dig out the sand under the donkey's feet. Paddy replied, "don't be daft Shaun, it's his ears too long not his legs.
With apologies to our Irish friends.
Bern