18 CLOTHING. 



CLOTHING. 



Opinions differ materially as to the amount of cloth- 

 ing that ought to be used in the stable. My view of the 

 matter is, that a stable being, as it should be, thoroughly 

 ventilated, necessitates the horses in it being to a cer- 

 tain extent kept warm by clothing. An animal that 

 has not been divested of his own coat by clipping or 

 singeing, will require very little covering indeed; for 

 nature's provision, being sufficient to protect him out of 

 doors, ought surely to suffice in the stable, with a very 

 slight addition of clothing. If he has been clipped or 

 singed, covering enough to make up for what he has 

 lost ought to be ample : by going beyond this the 

 horse is only made tender, and more susceptible of the 

 influences of the atmosphere when he comes to be ex- 

 posed to it with only a saddle on his back. 



In parts of North America, I have observed, where 

 the stables are built roughly of wood, with many fis- 

 sures to admit the weather, horses are seldom, if ever, 

 sheeted. They are certainly rarely divested of their 

 coats ; but during work, as occasion may require, it is 

 usual for the rider, when stopping at any place, to leave 

 his horse "hitched " (as they call it) to any convenient 

 post or tree, in all weathers, and for any length of time, 

 and these horses scarcely ever catch cold. 



The best SJieet is formed of a rug (sizeable enough to 

 meet across the breast and extend to the quarters), by 

 simply cutting the slope of the neck out of it, and fas- 

 tening the points across the breast by two straps and 

 buckles. 



The Hood need only be used when the horse is at 



