474 



SINGEING, PASTURING AND TURNING OUT. 



garding the time required for clipping a horse it is hardly 

 possible to say, as there are so many conditions any one of 

 which may or may not exist, such as the horse being rest- 

 less, nervous, the coat being heavy or light, and the quality 

 and condition of the clipping machine. It is said that the 

 record time for clipping a horse with the hand machine is 

 one hour and twelve minutes. 



SINGEING. 



"Stable men have long been in the habit of singeing away the long, 

 loose hair which grows about the jaws, throat, neck, belly, and quarters of 

 horses that have been much exposed to the cold ; a flame is applied and 

 the hair is allowed to blaze for a moment, when it is extinguished by draw- 

 ing the hand or a damp cloth over it. . . . But singeing is now done by a 



FIG. 225. 



kind of knife, having a movable back, which is surrounded with tow moist- 

 ened with spirit of wine and set on fire. As the knife is drawn over the 

 hairs, their points start and are taken off by the flame. When properly 

 performed this operation does not disfigure the horse so much as might be 

 expected. He does not look so ill as a clipped horse, and his hair is never 

 so generally shortened." — John Stewart, ^'^ Stable Economy,'' p. iig. 



PASTURING AND TURNING OUT. 



It frequently happens that a horse is turned out either 

 in a pasture or dirt paddock for the purpose of convalescing 

 or to reduce the cost of his keep. The owner must realize 



