CHAPTER XIV 



THE MANE, TAIL, AND FORELOCK 



TN keeping the mane and tail free from tangles it Is 

 "*■ better to use a comb and the fingers of the hand, 

 Instead of a brush, for less hair will be torn out. If 

 the mane Is so heavy and long as to give the horse a 

 coarse look which you wish to remove, carefully thin 

 and shorten It by pulling out a few hairs at a time. If 

 scissors are used for this purpose, the fact will be ap- 

 parent, and the appearance of the mane will be spoiled. 

 The root of the mane and of the forelock Is a par- 

 ticularly good place for dandruff and hayseed to accu- 

 mulate, and pains should be taken to keep these parts 

 clean. 



For the sake of cleanliness and coolness the hogging 

 of the mane Is practiced by many owners of work- 

 horses, and on the whole this Is probably productive of 

 more good than harm, although there are two opinions 

 on the subject. The objections to the practice are, first, 

 that It deprives the horse of some defense, on one 

 side of his neck at least, from excessive cold In winter 

 and the hot sun In summer, and, secondly. It is in 

 some degree a protection from flies on that side of the 

 neck. The mane of the wild horse divides, and falls 

 both ways, so as to protect both sides of his neck not 

 only from the weather, but also from the attacks of 

 other animals. 



[65] 



