8o THE HORSE 



when the horse begins to shed his coat or very soon 

 afterward. 



In short, whether a horse should be dipped depends 

 on several circumstances, on the kind of work that he 

 does, on the kind of coat that he has, on the kind of 

 stable in which he is kept, and on his age. 



It is hardly necessary to say that clipped horses 

 should be carefully protected from the cold. As 

 already stated, a clipped horse should have three 

 blankets, one thin, woolen one, and two thick, woolen 

 blankets, so that in ordinary weather he can wear the 

 thin, woolen blanket and one thick one, and in ex- 

 tremely cold weather he can have all three blankets. 

 The winter climate In this country is so variable that 

 horses cannot with comfort wear the same clothing 

 all the time. If a clipped horse is compelled to stand 

 out in cold weather, he should be covered by two heavy 

 street blankets. 



If a clipped horse Is kept properly warm, he will 

 never require a second clipping in early spring. The 

 long, coarse, straggling hairs that you often see grow- 

 ing out on a clipped horse are sure proof that he has 

 suffered much from the cold either In the stable or out 

 of It, and usually in the stable. 



There are various ways of clipping horses. Some 

 owners of draft horses in this country clip them In 

 those parts where they can be covered by a street 

 blanket, that Is, they clip the upper part of the body 

 leaving the hair on the belly, legs, head, and neck. 

 This is a good method for horses that require clipping, 

 and yet have to stand outdoors much of the time. 



