OF FARRIERY. 



291 



may be taken off with the scissors, so that it is 

 left thin at the points ; but not squared, to be 

 thick and bnsliy. Singeing now finishes the 

 tiimming business. Rough Horses, newly 

 taken from grass, usually want much singeing 

 all over, there being long downy hair project- 

 ing beyond the rest of the coat, which can 

 only be taken off at the present by singeing ; 

 for it would be some time before the daily 

 dressino:s would brins: it off. 



Begin with the head. For this purpose 

 you have a candle with a large wick. A 

 shoemaker's candle, that is made with two 

 wicks, is best. The long downy hair which 

 projects beyond the rest of the coat, may be 

 singed to a level with the coat ; these you will 

 find in some parts more abundant than in 

 others. The outside of the ears will have 

 some ; much also at the root, or bur of the 

 ear. The candle must not continue long in a 

 place, or it may burn the Horse ; therefore, 

 where there is much to singe off, you must 

 rub the singed place, let it cool, and apply 

 the candle again ; but not to continue it so 

 long as to blister the skin. The places that 

 require the most singeing, are at the root of 

 the ear, tlie thropple, about the throat, and 

 adjoining part of the neck. On the other parts 

 the long downy hairs will singe down at the 

 first touch ; but the places where I have 

 named, where the hair is thick and long, you 

 kiust wipe the singed part off, and repeat it 

 several times, minding not to burn the Horse, 

 which the thickness of the coat will prevent, 

 unless you keep the candle in one place an 

 unreasonable time, of which you must be 

 careful. Putting your hand over the eye, you 

 singe all the light straggling hairs you per- 

 ceive about his eyes, brows, forehead, cheeks, 

 beard, and the like. Where there is the least 



hair, you must be most careful not to burn ; 

 but the thropple and throat want many repe- 

 titions, the hair being so abundant and thick, 

 that frequent wipings must be resorted to, to 

 see that you do not singe irregularly. 



The head and throat being singed with the 

 candle, the residue of the body is singed with 

 straw. For this purpose you draw out some 

 long clean straw, taking as much in your hand 

 at a time, as about the thickness of three 

 fingers, and lighting one end, pass the flare or 

 flame, from one place to another, beginnino- at 

 his neck. Be careful not to singe his mane ; 

 proceeding from thence to his chest, shoni 

 ders, breast, and every part where you per 

 ceive long and downy hair projecting beyond 

 the generality of the ^^, minding not to 

 make your blaze too lar^Tnor continue it too 

 long in a place, particularly ^where there is 

 but little hair, as under the flank, and within 

 the thighs, &c. Then giving the Horse a 

 good wiping, and brushing over completely, 

 finishes his trimmins^. 



I have to observe, that Horses having been 

 kept for a time in the stable, and properly 

 groomed, have not these long downy coats, 

 and consequently will not require singeing all 

 over the body. The beard, the ears, mane, 

 and tail, are generally all that a blood Horse 

 requires to be trimmed when he is kept in 

 the stable ; but coarser Horses will require 

 the heels and other parts to be trimmed, 

 though the coat may be kept so fine as not to 

 require singeing. I have observed some 

 Horses are troublesome to trim. The means 

 usually taken in addition to the twitch on his 

 nose, or sometimes on the ear, are to gag him 

 with the halter, put through the mouth, and 

 over the ear, r.o that the more the Horse 

 struggles, he gags his mouth and pinches liia 



