92 MY HORSE ; MY LOVE 



SO few lame horses in the street. An unprincipled 

 stableman, knowing all the tricks of the trade, in order 

 to spare himself a day's uncongenial labour, can quickly 

 lame a horse without doing him more than a passing 

 injury. These things are so common that before examin- 

 ing a horse just developing some trouble, I make a sort 

 of detective's inspection of the groom, and seek to learn 

 something of his habits, inclinations, etc. A pin in the 

 fetlock, a hair from the tail threaded in a needle, and 

 run through the outer and middle tendons of the front 

 leg, and cut off close so that nothing appears, are some 

 of the detestable tricks occasionally resorted to out of 

 petty revenge, which I mention only as a warning to 

 trusting owners.' 



What are your notions about clipping. Count ? 



'Among some of the best horsemen there is a strong 

 prejudice against clipping a horse, thus depriving him 

 during the cold weather of the warm coat Nature pro- 

 vides. It would be most cruel to do this when a horse, 

 by reason of neglect, was permitted to stand, after heating 

 exercise, without being well blanketed.' 



I suppose the argument against clipping is that it is 

 against nature ? 



'Yes, that is the strongest argument, but as stabling, 

 driving, and even domestication are all artificial condi- 

 tions, it cannot well stand.' 



But does he not take cold more readily without his 

 winter's coat ? 



' On the contrary, a horse with a heavy coat is all the 

 better for being clipped, and is not nearly in so much 

 danger of taking cold. When brought in "sweating," his 

 heavy coat will not dry out readily, and unless "worked" 



