284 THE HORSE 



and if he cannot satisfy himself, as he nears the proper length, that he will 

 be likely to succeed, he can still call in the aid of a more skilful operator 

 before it is too late. The hair of the tail grows so slowly, that two or 

 three months are required to remove the disfigurement which is sometimes 

 caused in this way, and consequently it behoves the groom to be doubly 

 careful, for his own sake as well as his master's. 



There is a fashion in tails as well as manes, and for a long time a 

 " bang " tail was the vogue, and some men are capable of improving on 

 any sort of tail, with no other implement than a shoemaker's knife with a 

 rough edge, produced by rubbing it on a coarse stone, such as mowers use 

 upon a scythe. With a smooth edged tool it is difficult indeed to cut 

 through a quantity of strong tail hair, but the sheer steel and rough edge 

 of the cobbler's knife make short work of it if the operator has the 

 required skill to direct it. An instrument made for the purpose is sold by 

 Messrs. Arnold of Smithfield. 



To make the mane lie smoothly on its proper side, which it sometimes 

 obstinately refuses to do, it must be plaited in small locks, and the ends 

 loaded with lead, if it cannot be made to lie down without. An expe- 

 rienced groom, however, will generally succeed in so managing the plaits 

 that they lie close to the neck, which is all that can be effected by the aid 

 of lead, but sometimes the hair is so obstinate that nothing else will effect 

 the object in view. Special appliances for the purpose can now be 

 purchased. 



USE AND APPLICATION OF BANDAGES 



BANDAGES are applied to the legs of the horse for three different pur- 

 poses. First, to give support to the blood-vessels and synovial capsules ; 

 secondly, as a vehicle for applying cold lotions; and thirdly, for drying 

 and warming them. 



For the mere purpose of support either linen or flannel bandages may be 

 put on, according to the weather, and the tendency to inflammation. The 

 legs of seasoned old horses are seldom so prone to become hot as those of 

 young ones, and excepting in very warm weather, flannel bandages seem 

 to suit them better than linen. On the contrary, if flannel is applied to 

 the legs of a colt, even if they are not inclined to inflame, they will become 

 hot and uncomfortable, and he will learn to tear them off, in which some 

 horses become perfect adepts. Whichever kind of bandage is put on, it 

 should be previously tightly rolled with the tapes inwards, then taking 

 it in the right hand, and unwrapping about six inches, they are laid 

 against the cannon-bone on the side nearest to the groom, so that the 

 folds shall have a tendency to unroll from him and not to him. While the 

 left hand keeps the end from slipping, the right passes the roll of bandage 

 closely round the leg till it meets the left, when the latter, still .pressing 

 the end against the leg, lays hold of the roll, and allows the right to be 

 brought back to meet it on the other side. After which the coils are 

 repeated till the whole bandage is run out and the leg encased, one row 

 being slightly above or below the level of the next, as may be required. 

 The great art consists in avoiding unequal pressure, and yet giving 



