246 THE HORSE 



Under the word Groom are comprehended all servants having the 

 entire charge of horses, with the exception of those who habitually drive a 

 carriage of full size. There are many grooms who occasionall}^ drive their 

 masters' phaetons, and some who are regularly in charge of small carriages, 

 but who, on that account, do not obtain the name of coachman. As a 

 general rule, however, the office of the groom is to take charge of hunters, 

 hacks, and phaeton horses, both indoors and out : and if the latter he 

 should be able to drive well enough to handle the reins with safety in the 

 absence of his master. The stud-groom does little work himself, but 

 superintends large establishments and occasionally drives as well. On the 

 other hand, the hunting-groom may or may not require assistance ; but if 

 he has more than three horses to look after, he cannot do them well 

 himself. Two horses, and a gig or dog-cart, ai'e quite sufficient for a groom, 

 and they will give him eight or nine hours' hard work daily in the stable- 

 yard and harness-room, besides what he has to do out of doors, in attendance 

 on his master. The wages of a good groom vary from 18s. to 25s. weekly 

 out of doors, or from 15/. to 30/. yearly indoors. 



The helper is merel}^ a strapper, and is only required to use his hands, 

 and not his head. His wages vary from 10s. to 18s. per week, according 

 to the locality. 



CLOTHING, STABLE IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 



The various accessories required in the stable are of two kinds : first, 

 those intended to confine and clothe the horse ; and secondly, the imple- 

 ments with which he is dressed, and otherwise attended to. 



Whether in a stall or loose box, every horse must have a head-collar, 

 which should always be made with a front-piece, as without this the mane 

 is soon worn away for 4 or 5 in. behind the ears, instead of two. Nothing 

 so effectually spoils the appearance of the horse as a shabby mane ; and the 

 trifling outlay necessary to procure a front-piece is never regretted by those 

 who care about looks. One or two rope halters are also required, by which 

 the horse is tied up, or led out of doors when he is being dressed after his 

 work, or while he is being cooled when he comes home in a sweat. The 

 price of the leather head-collar is from 3s. Gd. to 10s. ; that of a rope halter 

 varying from Gd. to 2s. 6c/. according to quality. I have described the head- 

 stall rein or halter tyeing on page 237. 



Horse CLOTHING varies in make, quality, and price, from the small rug, 

 costing about 6s., to the complete suit of body-clothes, which will be charged 

 for by first-rate saddlers at the rate of about six guineas or seven guineas. 

 Rugs are made of the same materials as our household blankets, dyed 

 according to taste ; and between the quality of those used by small dealers 

 or liverymen, on the one hand, and in well-appointed private stables on the 

 other, there is as much diflference as between a workhouse blanket and a 

 " best AVitney." The former are small, thin, and light, easily torn, and 

 soon wearing out ; while the latter are large, warm, and tolerably stout and 

 enduring, though not being twilled, like the serge used for body-clothes, 

 they tear much more readily. An undyed coarse serge is now used in many 



