CARE OF SADDLERY. 229 



the saddle-room they will require very little attention ; 

 but if wet and dirty they must be sponged with yellow 

 soap and water, and then wiped as dry as possible ; after 

 which the leather will be much benefited by the ap- 

 plication of a little of the best neatsfoot oil, or white of 

 egg ; which should be well rubbed off in the course of 

 a few hours, with a leather kept for this especial pur- 

 pose. This should be done immediately the bits, stir- 

 rups, and girths are removed. The girths should be 

 well scraped and then scoured with soap and water — 

 followed by pipeclay if white — when they may be hung 

 up to dry. 



The stirrups, bits, &c, should be washed with water 

 immediately they are taken off, to remove all dirt, &c, 

 after which they should be rubbed dry with a cloth, 

 and then scoured with the hand and some fine silver 

 sand slightly wetted ; which should be removed by a 

 good rubbing with a dry cloth kept for the purpose ; 

 but on no account must the sand be washed off with 

 water, or rubbed off with oil, as the polish is soon lost 

 thereby ; but they may be polished with the burnishers 

 to give them a still brighter appearance. 



Both reins and saddles should be well rubbed with 

 a chamois-leather wrapper previous to being used; since 

 nothing is more nasty and disagreeable than a greasy 

 or sticky feel on them, even if not liable to soil. If 

 they are well rubbed until they fail to soil a clean 

 chamois-leather wrapper, all will be well. 



It will now be necessary for me to say a few words 

 in conclusion on certain duties that every groom will be 



