12 HAY SEED, OR HOW TO 



CHAPTER III. 



CLOTHING, HARNESS, BITS, ETC. 



There are different opinions about blankets and cover- 

 ing for horses in the stable. I don't believe a horse 

 needs anything more than to make him comfortable. No 

 horse ought to sweat under the blankets in the stable, 

 and he should be provided v/ith changes, so he can be 

 made comfortable in any change of the temperature. In 

 winter, if he is clipped, he must be provided with extra 

 clothing, unless the stable is heated artificially, and for 

 out door use the blanket for clipped horses should be 

 large enough to cover them well down toward their feet, 

 and the shed ought to be a very warm one, or they ought 

 not to be left under it at all if it is a cold day. A single 

 strap rubber trimmed harness with a good, substantial, 

 three inch saddle and fiat lines, all made from Maffot's 

 leather, is good enough for anybody and looks as well as 

 any harness that was ever made. Horses ordinarily act 

 as well in a headstall with winkers as any, although some 

 flighty, nervous horses, and shyers, act better in an open 

 bridle. Experiment will teach you which kind of head- 

 stall to adopt. There are a thousand styles of bits, but 

 the ordinary jointed bit, known as the Dexter trotting 

 snaffle, is as good as any. Some horses act better with 

 a plain bar bit than any other, but use the one your 

 horses appear to like best. Don't make a puller of him 

 by driving him on a bit he is continually fighting against. 



