STABLE SERVANTS! 91 



much trouble with his helpers, especially if he 

 engages his own, with the understanding that he 

 can get rid of them if they give trouble. If trouble 

 of this kind occurs frequentlj^ you should look into 

 things, and judge whether it is the fault of the 

 groom or his helpers, and act accordingly ; but 

 whilst he is in charge of the stables his authoriiy 

 must be fully supported by you. Be careful, when 

 you notice anything you do not approve of, not to 

 speak to him about it in the presence of the men 

 under him. It is very galling to a good man, and 

 weakens his authority. I think it is a good plan 

 to get out of the habit (to which some of us are 

 prone, when young) of constant fault finding, when 

 the stable work is going on. Of course, check at 

 once anything glaringly wrong which you see, but 

 the small things which you may remark, it is 

 better, I think, to defer noticing until the work is 

 over, when you can do so quietly and temperately. 

 When your groom comes in for orders in the even- 

 ing (which a hunting groom should always do) tell 

 him of any little thing you observed, which you 

 wish to be altered. If he is a good man you ought 

 not to have to refer to this particular thing again. 

 If you do have to, it becomes a question whether 

 the man is worth keeping as a head groom. 



Never swear at a servant. It is bad form, 

 and is like striking a man who cannot strike back 



