STABLE MANAGEMENT. 93 



173. Artificial removal of the coat. 



With good grooming, good stables, and the maintenance of an equable 

 temperature, few well-bred horses, except in old age, ought to require the 

 artificial removal of their coats. When, however, it is requisite, there 

 are three means by which it may be effected, namely by singeing, by 

 clipping, and by shaving. Each has its own advantages, according to 

 circumstances. 



174. Singeing. 



Some horses sweat much in autumn, and are worth nothing until their 

 coats are off. Let such be singed. Singeing cannot be begun too early, 

 whilst clipping must not be done until the coat has fully grown and set. 



The only real art in singeing is to begin early enough and to remove 

 the fresh growth every week. Gas answers best for the operation. 



175. Clipping. 



Other horses are the better for being worked in autumn in clothing or 

 with their coats on, and will be more fit at the commencement of the 

 hunting season on account of the extra sweating so caused. Let such be 

 clipped or shaved. The horse's coat should be fully set before it is 

 removed by clipping. 



176. Shaving. 



Shaving is a very neat and effectual mode of removing the coat. Some 

 nicety however is required in hitting off the right time for the operation, 

 namely, about a week before the coat sets. If done sooner, the coat 

 grows again, and the horse may require to be singed afterwards. If de- 

 ferred later, he may be bare all the winter. The part of the back under 

 the saddle should not be shaved, but clipped. 



177. Hair not to be removed from the legs in rough hunting countries. 



In rough hunting countries it is not desirable to remove the hair from 

 the legs of hunters, from the swell of the arm or thigh downwards. 



178. Manes and tails. 



Manes and tails should be brushed, not combed. A comb pulls out the 

 hairs, and will soon make a mane or tail thin. A switched tail may 

 always be produced by combing it at the end. 



Almost any mane may be made to lie on the side desired by frequently 

 damping and brushing it, or if need be, by plaiting it with lead. Civi- 

 lians prefer the mane being laid to the off side. With troop horses it is 

 always laid to the near side, with the view of enabling the dragoon to 

 tfcke a lock of it in his hand before mounting. 



The practice of mounting with a lock of the mane in the bridle hand 

 is good, because it lessens the chance of giving the horse a chuck in the 



