driving, or carting, a few minutes at least before taking 

 the saddle and crupper finally from the horse's back. 

 The heated parts are thus gradually cooled and relieved 

 without the risk which attends the instantaneous removal 

 of the saddle. Prompt removal of the saddle invariably 

 follows the system of unbuckling the billetts at the 

 bit first of the set, and which bad method, or want 

 of thought, is alone responsible for the many sore 

 and scaly tails we see about the region of the dock ; 

 so much so, that some tails that have been thus neglected, 

 have the appearance of a number of permanent sores 

 and running wounds underneath, which is caused by 

 the horse pressing and keeping down the tail when the 

 saddle is unbuckled and dragged off, with all its sur- 

 roundings at a moment's notice; and very often the 

 behind part of the steed is pulled half across the stall. 

 Before the saddle is taken off altogether, after loosening 

 the girth, the reins should be cleared of the harness and 

 hung up, not doubled or twisted in any way, but sus- 

 pended as nearly straight as possible.^ 



THE HAMES follow in due course, being unbuckled 

 whilst upon the horse's neck, and then removed. They 

 should never remain upon the collar, to be taken off at the 

 same time, and left upon it ; such doing is a strong illus- 

 tration of want of feeling for the horse. It may be 

 considered a saving of time and easy enough to take old 

 and wide collars off the neck with the hames attached, but 

 the quickness of the business, if done quickly at all, is 

 chiefly owing to the extreme anxiety of the horse to wriggle 

 through the infliction, and get it over. It is usual on 

 taking the hames off to examine the top and bottom 

 straps, as they are an important item in the set, and it 

 is necessary to see that the punch holes are all sound. 

 The advantage of taking the hames off before the bridle 



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