16 GROOMING. 



Singeing, when severe rapid work is done, enables 

 the horse to perform his task with less distress, and 

 when it is over, facilitates his being made comfortable 

 in the shortest possible space of time. 



Singeing, if done early in the jvinter, requires to be 

 repeated lightly three or four times during the season. 



CUpxnng has exactly the same effect as the above, 

 and is preferable to it only in cases where, the animal's 

 coat being extremely long, extra labour, loss of time, 

 and flame, are avoided by the clipping process. Singe- 

 ing is best with the lighter coats, but sometimes thin 

 skinned and coated animals are too nervous and excit- 

 able to bear the flame near them for this purpose, in 

 which case the' cause of alarm ought obviously to be 

 avoided, and clipping resorted to. 



It is worth Avhile to employ the best manipulators to 

 perform these operations. 



With horses intended for slow and easy work, and 

 liable to continued exposure to the weather, singeing or 

 clipping only the under part of the belly, and the long 

 hairs of the legs, will suffice. Unless neatly and tastily 

 done, this is very unsightly on a gentleman's horse. 

 Clipping, if not done till the beginning of December, 

 seldom requires repetition. 



In stony and rough countries, it is the habit of judi- 

 cious horsemen to leave the hair on their hunters' legs 

 from the knees and hocks down, as a protection to 

 them. 



HALTEEING. 



Tlie Headstall should fit a horse, and have a proper 

 brow-band ', it is ridiculous to suppose that the same 



