CARE OF SADDLERY AND HARNESS 317 



fine, take a leather, kept specially for the purpose, and wipe off the dust ; 

 sponging with a damp sponge those parts which are soiled with sweat. If 

 the traces, belly-band, etc. are splashed with mud, wash them at once ; oa 

 no account soaking them in water, or using more of it than is necessary. 

 Dry them, as far as possible, with the leathei\s, and put to the fire on the 

 horse represented at page 239. If the black dye with which the leather 

 is stained has come off to any serious extent, a little of a solution of green 

 copperas may be used, but this is not often necessary. Unbuckle the bits 

 from the bridle, put them in clean water for a short time, then take them 

 out, and remove every particle of dirt from them. Dry with the leather, 

 and rub a very little neat's-foot oil on them. Before they are used again, 

 they must be polished with the dry leather, aided by a little silver sand, 

 if they have become at all rusty. The curb-chain will always want rub- 

 bing loosely in the hand with a little silver sand, finishing with the 

 leather. 



No metal is likely to wholly supersede steel both for strength and 

 appearance in the gentleman's stable where an adequate amount of 

 labour can be expended on burnishing, but for general utilitj^, and especially 

 among the class of men who keep a horse in the country with only but 

 indifferent service, the employment of white metal non-corrosive bits are 

 now general. They need only to be washed clean and polished with a 

 chamois leather or soft fine powder such as is used in knife machines 

 (Oakey's Wellington knife polish), or the common powder known as rotten- 

 stone will serve. These were first invented by a country saddler in Sussex, 

 who deserves the thanks of all poor as well as lazy horse-keepers, and 

 especially doctors and vets, who come in wet at night and can just hang up 

 the bridle without the fear of red rust staring the servant in the face and 

 demoralizing him with the feeling that cleaning bits is about as much real 

 use as polishing the anchor at sea. 



The makers have so far improved upon the original alloy that there is 

 now no fear of bending if one will give the price for good bits. A similar 

 material white throughout is used for hame and saddle terrets and buckles 

 in lieu of the old plate, which so soon came off with wear and indifferent 

 treatment. We have not, however, seen hames that were made throughout 

 of this material. 



Black harness must be kept constantly polished by hand-brushing it 

 with some composition specially prepared for the purpose. This must be 

 of a greasy or waxy nature, to prevent the rain from dissolving it, and 

 washing it off upon the coat of the horse. One or other of the fcllowinw 

 compositions will answer the purpose. 



RECIPES FOR HARNESS BLACKING. 



No. 1. 



Spirit of Turpentine 1 pt. 



Beeswax 4 oz. 



Prussian Bhie 1 oz. 



Lamp-black i oz. 



Slice the wax very thin, put it in a jar and pour on the turpentine. Let it stand twenty- 

 four hours, then grind the other ingredients together on a stone or marble slab, and mix 

 carefully up. It must be kept in a covered tin box. 



