78 NOTES FOU HUNTING-MEN 



another reason why an occasional morning's cub- 

 bing is so much to be recommended. 



Another point to be considered in the conditioning 

 season is the question of clipping. Many advise this 

 not being done until the whole of the coat 

 has grown, and is what they call * set.' I 

 have found from experience that it is better to take 

 the coat off directly enough has grown to be worth 

 clipping, and to continue doing so as long as it 

 grows. This does no harm to the horse's appear- 

 ance, and he feels the loss much less than when a 

 large quantity of winter coat is removed at one 

 clipping. I know that since I discontinued doing 

 this I have had hardly any cough in the stable 

 during the autumn, which was not the case 

 previously. A horse, too, does his work, better, 

 more comfortably, and with less risks of chill, when 

 the coat is frequently removed, and of course it 

 makes far less labour for your stablemen. If the 

 stud is a large one, say more than six horses, one 

 of the numerous clipping machines on the market 

 is a most desirable adjunct to the stable, saving 

 your head groom (who ought to do all clipping and 

 trimming) a great deal of time as well as fatigue. 

 The desirability of clipping the saddle mark is a 

 matter of opinion. Personally, I am in favour of 

 leaving the hair on under the saddle, as a pre- 

 ventative to sore back ; but, if this is done, the 



