THE COLLAR. 



piece should be made so that it will fall just below the 

 junction of the windpipe with the breast. 



In fitting no time or care should 

 be spared, as a badly fitting collar 

 will be the source of constant an- 

 noyance and possibly injury to the 

 horse. If it is properly attended 

 to, the shoulders will not become 

 galled nor the breathing of the 

 horse be obstructed ; but unless 

 these precautions are taken the 

 comfort and action of the horse in 

 all likelihood will be interfered with 

 to the extent of rendering his ser- 

 vice unsatisfactory and uncertain. 



" Collars require the greatest attention 

 and nicety in fitting, for they must not only 

 fit well, but exactly ; if too long, they are 



as bad as if they were too short, too wide, or too narrow ; in each case sore 

 shoulders are certainties. It follows, therefore, that where more horses than 

 one are kept, each should have its own collar which should be distinctly 

 marked inside, so as to preclude the possibility of mistake." "Driving," 

 Badminton, p. pj. 



Regarding the fitting of the collar another authority says : 



"Placing the horse's head in the position in which it is carried in har- 

 ness, I take the collar in both hands and force it back on the shoulders, when, 

 if it bears on all parts of the shoulders and there is room for inserting my 

 fingers between it and the horse's windpipe, I regard it as a good fit." 



The art of properly fitting a collar is one which few, even 

 of the good harness makers, seem to possess, and a half dozen 

 or more collars should be tried before one is selected. In 



FIG. 67. 



