THE 



MODERN SYSTEM OF FAllEIERY. 



PART III. 



CHAPTER I. 



ON JRIMMLVG'. 



Many gentlemen, who are exceedingly at- 

 tached to Horses, are also fond of performing 

 some minor operations themselves ; and in no 

 wav so much as trimming: the Horse. It fre- 

 q'ien*Ay fills up a leisure hour in the morning, 

 and there is a self-gratification in being able 

 to perform this operation themselves ; and I 

 have known some gentlemen so celebrated for 

 squaring a Horse's tail, that they were fre- 

 quently invited to perform that operation for 

 many distant friends ; consequently, I thought 

 it would not be inapt to introduce the best 

 method of performing the operation in the 

 most gentlemanly and skilful manner. 



Trimming, which I consider the principal 

 part of the grooms business, and what every 

 one who has the care of Horses, should qualify 

 himself to perform, as it is allowed to embel- 

 lish and SQt a Horse off to much advantage. 

 Many Hortes are exceedingly troublesome to 

 trim, and require most extraordinary means to 

 •Ail 



be adopted, in order to accomplisli it ; such 

 as are shocking to relate. I have known large 

 sums of money given to trim such troublesome 

 Horses. I am of opinion they were made so, 

 from the improper methods taken with them 

 at first, by those who had not patience to 

 coax, nor ability to accomplish by compulsion, 

 and therefore made the Horse desperate, 

 without being able to effect their purpose. 

 Most Horses have such a dislike to be trim- 

 med, particularly about the head, that few 

 stand without the twitch, and if they stand 

 tolerably quiet with that, it is as much as can 

 be expected ; but if with a little coaxing, it 

 can be done without, it will be the better. 

 There is great care, skill, and judgment re- 

 quired in trimming : care, that you do no 

 injury by the unsteadiness of the Horse with 

 your scissors ; skill, that you may not disfigure 

 him by scoring, notching, and the like ; and 

 judgment, to trim him in that style, as will 



