Getting the Horses Ready 



during the long summer demand attention. Some 

 horses look the better by having their manes removed. 

 The big chestnut is in that category. His mane was 

 hogged last season and it has now grown into upright 

 bristles and requires trimming with the clipping machine. 

 The little bay mare and the big grey horse need to have 

 theirs combed out carefully and the ends plucked to 

 make them lie evenly : the retention of their manes 

 being a distinct improvement to the general appearance 

 of both animals. They can be combed flat or plaited 

 tidily later on in the season. 



Tails now need trimming, and this is not a task for 

 the amateur. It is an art in itself, and five minutes' 

 carelessness can ruin the appearance of a tail, giving it 

 a butchered-looking effect. The application of machines 

 or clippers of any description to a horse's tail is almost 

 criminal. This is a task for deft fingers, and as horse- 

 hairs are slippery, one's fingers should be dusted with 

 resin to ensure gripping them and bringing more satis- 

 factory results. Unless this operation is performed 

 correctly, horse-hairs can peel the skin from between 

 one's fingers, sometimes almost cutting to the bone. 



When one horse is ready a tail bandage is put on to 

 coax the remaining hairs into their proper position, the 

 yard gate is opened and he is led away to the forge. 

 He would depart more quietly, and would probably 

 behave more mannerly in the forge had a companion 

 accompanied him : but before the hunting season is 

 ended he will have to go many places alone and ignore 

 the lure of company, so he had better sample his first 

 lesson in equine deportment. 



173 



