UNHARNESSING. 509 



trap he should dismount in the reverse order of mounting, 

 place the reins through the off pad-terret, fasten the horse 

 by the tie reins, cover the animal with a blanket if the 

 weather is cold, and then hang the whip in place. Before 

 commencing to unharness he should remove his gloves, coat 

 and hat, and protect the remainder of his livery with an 

 apron. 



In single harness the tug-girth should first be unfastened, 

 then the traces, and lastly the breeching-straps. The trace 

 end should be carried up and passed between the trace 

 buckles and keepers. In taking the horse out careless 

 servants allow the shafts to drop on the ground from the 

 tugs. Such carelessness soon results in the joints loosen- 

 ing and plates rattling. The end of the curb-chain should 

 be undone on the near side, the billets of the reins un- 

 fastened and drawn back through the hame and pad terrets. 

 The saddle should be removed, then the collar turned around 

 on the horse's neck and the hames removed, but not the 

 collar; the latter should be turned back into place and left 

 against the shoulders until the horse is cool. If this pre- 

 caution is taken, the horses will not be troubled with shoulder 

 galls unless the collar misfits. The horse should now be 

 led into the stall part and a cleaning bridle put on. The 

 bit of the bridle should be immediately unfastened and 

 placed in a pail of clean water until the servant is ready to 

 clean it. This care given to the bit and other steels, such 

 as chains, stirrups, etc., will prevent the metal from rusting. 



In unharnessing a pair the buckle of the hand-pieces of 

 the reins should first be unfastened, then the coupling reins, 

 and afterward the traces, the inside ones first and lastly 

 the pole-pieces or pole-chains. The tug-straps should be 



