CHAPTER XVI 

 CLIPPING 



/^^LIPPING is often an advantage to the horse, and 

 ^^ on the other hand it is often the cause of great 

 suffering. Some horses retain a fairly short coat 

 even through the winter, and such horses should never 

 be clipped. Coachmen in private families usually have 

 all their horses clipped, partly because it is the fashion, 

 and partly because it saves them trouble in grooming; 

 but a well-bred carriage horse kept in a warm stable, 

 with heavy blankets, should never be clipped, or almost 

 never, for, except in some very few cases, his coat will 

 remain short throughout the winter. 



The hair on the inside of the ears, especially the 

 long hairs, should never be clipped, for these hairs 

 protect the ears not only from cold, but also from the 

 intrusion of dust, insects, and other foreign substances. 

 If this hair becomes very long, the ear can be closed 

 and then the hair that projects beyond the ear can be 

 cut off without detriment. 



If a saddle horse is clipped, the clipping should be 

 done with the saddle on him, so as to leave undipped 

 the part covered by the saddle, for if the hair under 

 the saddle is removed a sore back is likely to result. 



It is much better not to clip the legs. Your horse 

 may not look quite so well with undipped legs, but it 

 is impossible to blanket the legs, and any horse whose 



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