CLOTHING, STABLE IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 247 



stain, and is not calculated to please the eye. If rugs are used, they -will 

 be found to last much longer when bound with strong galloon ; and it is an 

 excellent plan to have them made, as they now frequently are, with a pro- 

 jecting piece on the off side iu front, which wraps round the breast of the 

 horse, and buckles over the near side, so as to protect this part of the horse, 

 both indoors and out. A roller, well padded, to keep the pressure off the 

 backbone, completes this kind of clothing ; but in well-managed stables it 

 is customary to keep two rugs, one for the day and the other to be put on 

 at night. The object of this is not only for the sake of appearances, but to 

 enable the groom to keep the inside as well as the out dry and clean. A rug 

 which is constantly on the horse soon becomes matted with hair, scurf, and 

 sweat, which must occasionally be brushed, or even washed off; for without 

 this the insensible perspiration constantly thrown off by the hox'se's skin has 

 not a sufficient means of escape. The cuit of body-clothing is made of 

 thick, strong, and warm serge, and consists of a quarter-piece, a breast- 

 piece, and a hood. The quarter-piece is cut so as to cover the body of the 

 horse, and the two sides do not meet in front, so that an open space is left 

 to be covered by the breast-piece, which somewhat resembles a short man's 

 apron in its form, and is buckled to the quarter-piece on each side of the 

 withers, where the latter has a strong piece of leather stitched on, to enable 

 it to stand the drag. The hood is cut to the shape of the head and neck, 

 having holes for the eyes and coverings for the ears, resembling those organs 

 in shape. The muzzle is uncovered for about 6 in., and a strap and buckle 

 confine the hood to this part ; while a number of strings tie it under the 

 angle of the jaw and below the neck, in such a way as to let it loosely over- 

 lap the quarter-piece and breast-piece. All these three divisions ai'e neatly 

 bound, and the whole looks well upon the horse, when nicely put on with 

 the roller buckled smoothly over the quarter-piece. A cord is sometimes 

 used to confine the quarter-piece behind, when there is much wind. It is 

 simply attached on each side, so as to lie beneath the tail across the quarters 

 of the horse. Body-clothing is made of different degrees of stoutness, 

 according to the time of year when it is to be worn. Race-horses, which 

 are not intended to be trained during the winter, do not require such stout 

 clothing as hunters, and their sheets in the summer are made of very light 

 serge. Bx'own-holland is not fit for any season, for even in our summer the 

 nights are often unexpectedly cold. The following are the prices at which 

 good rugs and clothing may be obtained fit for private use : — 



£ s. d. 



Horse Blankets, or Rugs from 65. to 18 



Knee-Caps, per pair from 5s. to 9 



Set of Bandages, woollen or linen from is. to 5 



Best Body Hollers, doubled strapped 086 



Complete suit of Superfine Kersey Horse-Clothing, bound and edged 



with Superfine Cloth, stitched throughout with silk, Initials, etc., 



all complete 4 15 



Complete Suit of Summer Horse-Clothing, stitched throughout with 



silk. Initials 2 15 



Complete Suit of Blanket Hoise-Clothing, with llood. Pad Cloth, 



Roller, Initials, etc., all complete 300 



Heavy Night Rug, cut and bound 120 



Sweaters are merely warm rugs or blankets whicli are kept for that 

 especial purpose, and are shaped according to the part they are intended to 



