104 HUNTING 



rugs, guaranteed to be all luool, and weighing about 

 8 lbs. These are sold at 2s. per lb. The groom must 

 use his own discretion in regard to the amount of 

 clothing, but it is never necessary, even during the 

 hardest frost, to use more than three rugs. Of course 

 especial care should be taken to see that horses are 

 well clothed after clipping or singeing, at which time 

 they are likely to contract colds, and always the 

 clothing should be carefully adjusted, and not thrown 

 on in a slovenly fashion. 



The head-stalls should be of broad, strong leather, 

 with brass mountings, and with no other materials 

 about them, such as brow bands of white enamelled 

 leather. The latter soon crack, and even when new 

 have not, in our opinion, a sportsmanlike appearance. 

 A good average price is 7s. 6d. The lead-lines should 

 be of strong leather, and cost between 4s, and 5s. ; 

 the logs cost Is. Many people prefer chain lead-lines, 

 and they are almost universally used in cavalry stables, 

 but we hold the same objections for the same reasons 

 to chain lead-lines as we do to chain pillar reins ; the 

 noise may not affect cavalry chargers, but we are sure 

 that it affects nervous hunters. 



The saddle-room must be adjacent to the stable, 

 and, like the stable, warm and dry. As a rule, it is 

 kept too warm, and for that reason we prefer a stove 

 to an open fire. The inner walls should be lined like 

 those of the stable. 



The necessary saddle-room fixtures are as follows : — 



1. Backs on which bridles should be kept sepa- 

 rately, and protected from dust by holland 

 curtains. 



