264 HORSE AND MAfl. 



CHAPTER XV. 



The mane and the practice of 'hogging' -The tail and its office — What 

 man does to the tail — Docking — A puzzled J.P. — The professional 

 eye again — Docking and lock-jaw — Nicking — An unexpected ally — 

 ' Conducive to human safety ' — The tail and the crupper — Winter 

 and summer coats of the horse — Clipping and singeing — American 

 horses in winter — Fashion with man and horse — The groom's real 

 reason for clipping — Mayhew and Lupton's opinions of clipping — The 

 ' moulting ' of birds. 



Having now seen some of the effects of the profes- 

 sional eye upon the head of the horse, we will pass 

 to its neck and spine. 



The chief glory of the horse's neck is the Mane, 

 which ' clothes his neck with thunder.' It is 

 balanced by the full and flowing tail which adorns 

 the last vertebras of the spine, both of these orna- 

 ments being distinguishing marks between the horse 

 and the ass. It could not be expected that the 

 professional eye could miss such sj)lendid oppor- 

 tunities as are presented by the mane and tail, on 

 both of which man has laid his sacrilegious hands. 



The Creator has made the mane full and flowing 

 to match the tail. Man, therefore, cuts it away until 



