GROOMS 123 



himself smartly. Indeed, a man who is smart in his 

 own personal appearance will generally see that his 

 stable, horses, harness, and carriage are in smart condi- 

 tion. When we see an unshaven groom with dirty 

 boots we should know that his stable and horses would 

 also be dirty. It is not permissible for any gentleman's 

 servant to wear a moustache. It is a question admit- 

 ting of much doubt as to whether or not the master 

 should provide the groom with stable clothes. We 

 think that a groom in livery should be provided with 

 a suit of stable clothes twice a year, as he can then 

 have no excuse for his appearance being untidy during 

 his working hours. It is far from pleasant to take 

 guests, especially ladies, into the stable, and find the 

 groom in worn and shabby clothes. The novice must 

 remember that though stable clothes are the property 

 of the groom, liveries, including breeches and boots, are 

 the property of the master ; still it is wisest to impress 

 this fact upon the groom when he is engaged. Some 

 gentlemen will not allow their grooms to remove their 

 stable clothes upon leaving their employ. But these 

 are matters for the master to determine for himself, so 

 long as he makes the arrangement with the groom 

 clear beforehand. 



If the groom is required to act as second horse- 

 man his riding weight should never exceed 9J 

 stone, and the less the better. In any case it is 

 desirable that his riding weight should not exceed 

 10 stone, as he has to exercise horses and ride them 

 to covert. If it can be managed, it is best for the 

 master to see him scale before engaging him, for all 

 riders — both masters and men — are apt to pervert the 



