196 THE ADVENTUKES OF A GENTLEMAN 



A custom of clipping horses has sprung up within 

 the last five years. It certainly appears, at first 

 sight, a barbarous system, thus to deprive a horse of 

 the warm covering that nature has given him, and it 

 was long before I was reconciled to it ; but I must 

 acknowledge that I have found it beneficial, so far as 

 my experience has gone. The animal becomes ra- 

 pidly dry after a quarter of an hour's dressing, and 

 will begin to feed immediately ; while the undipped 

 horse, even with the best grooming, will sometimes 

 remain wet for the whole night, and feed with com- 

 parative reluctance. The best proof of its utility is, 

 that most horses are improved in condition by it. 

 It must not be forgotten that the whole life and 

 state of the animal are essentially changed from 

 their natural order ; and therefore, a treatment which 

 may appear very contrary to the provisions of na- 

 ture, may nevertheless, be suited to his artificial ex- 

 istence. When a horse is first turned out to grass, 

 he will gallop about the field for a long time toge- 

 ther, and will appear to take violent exercise ; but 

 on close observation it will be found that he never 

 indulges in his gambols till he sweats. His coat is 

 always dry, and of course contributes to warmth; 



