,1 ^ 1 



The most important part of the cart-set, for the 

 comfort of the horse, is the collar, and the only portion 

 of it that can be reduced in weight is the housing. The 

 old fashioned monster housings never ought to be re- 

 vived, and the writer thinks they can never be forgotten. 



It is extremely important that the collar be lined 

 with best check, and faced between the straw and the 

 check with good clean wool, and the shape of the collar 

 fitted exactly to the form of the horse's neck. Open topped 

 collars must be strapped perfectly tight, in fact the top strap 

 in all open topped collars, whether for use on the surface 

 or under-ground, should only be punched one hole ; this 

 will ensure the shape and firmness of the collar being 

 kept as much as possible. 



A cruel practice has been known to be indulged in 

 for the purpose of showing a cheap job in repairing, but 

 it is done at the expense of the horse, that is simply 

 covering the old and dirty lining with new check, and 

 passing the same off for re-bodying and fresh strawing and 

 wooling, when at the same time the old filling has neither 

 been disturbed nor renewed in any way. Such disgraceful 

 workmanship is nothing more nor less than a wicked 

 robbery to the customer and torture for the horse, and 

 would not be permitted in the workshop of any respect- 

 able and conscientious saddler ; but it is a well known 

 fact that, in addition to the above, nails and tacks have 

 been substituted for stitches by the unprincipled and 

 cheap contractor, and when it has become an absolute 

 necessity for re-wooling, the very cheapest, knotty, and 

 dirty flocks have been used, without the slightest con- 

 sideration for the horse or the reputation of the contractor, 

 who seems to think of nothing but what will answer his 

 immediate purpose. 



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