THE GROOM 139 



itself even to the uninitiated in the craft, and in no 

 case more strongly than in a strapper. Look at the 

 poor, miserable, feeble creatures that stare at your 

 horse as you dismount at a third-rate London livery 

 stable, or in an ill-frequented country inn yard ; see 

 how they potter and dribble and fistle about the 

 animal, fearing as it were to tackle with him, and 

 when they do, most likely commencing with that 

 abomination of all abominations, whipping off the 

 saddle, and contrast their dawdling, inert movements 

 with the prompt, vigorous decision of the well accus- 

 tomed stable-man, who is stripped to the shirt, has 

 the bridle and stirrups in hand, girths loose, and 

 hunting martingale off before the other poor ninny 

 has got his shirt sleeves turned up. 



When at length Dribbles does begin to hiss, the 

 chances are he does nothing but teaze and tickle the 

 animal with his ill-arranged whisp, or having scraped 

 a certain quantity of mud off its belly he will proceed 

 forthwith to plaister it about the ears by way of 

 making it comfortable about the head. The real 

 workman having disencumbered the horse of his 

 bridle will shake his litter up, sponge his eyes, nose, 

 and mouth, and give him his gruel. We like to see 

 the hunter getting his gruel, it must be as refreshing 

 to him as a basin of soup to a tired man. Then he 

 will give him a bit of hay, which will occupy the horse 

 and keep him from snatching and biting at the man 

 or the manger. Sponging under the tail and all 

 about is a grand thing, and we should like to see 

 more of it. Pulling the ears, too, is a thing all 

 horses like, and doubtless tends much to make them 

 comfortable about the head. Real good powerful 

 strapping is quite as essential towards condition as 

 feeding and exercise. Some fellows only strip horses 

 and starve them. 



Ascending a little in the scale of stable servitude, 

 we will take a glance at the Second Horseman. The 



