TlIK HORSE. 



7i 



sist from so unnatural a practice. The long hair 

 which grows upon the throat channel and necks of 

 horses, like that upon the human neck, is designed 

 as a protection to the most dehcate part of the sys- 

 tem ; and its removal causes fatal colds in both man 

 and beast. The hair is sometimes trimmed from 

 the neck of the horse by clipping and singeing. It 

 certainly does not improve the looks of the horse, 

 and cannot be of service in any other respect. 



TRIMMING THE HEELS AND LEGS. 



The hair of the fetlock, the hollow of the pastern, 

 and the posterior aspect of the legs, is larger in 

 draught horses than on those of finer bone. It is m- 

 tended to keep the legs warm,, and to protect them 

 from external violence ; but it is the practice with 

 grooms to cut this hair off short to the roots. There 

 has been considerable question respecting the pro- 

 priety of trimming the heels. Some contend that 

 the hair soaks up the moisture and keeps the skin 

 wet and cold, producing sores and scur.finess ; but 

 others, with greater show of reason, contend that 

 the long hair, instead of causing those evils, is the 

 only sure preventive of them. 



SINGEING. 



Singeing off the superfluous hair which grows 

 about the throat, neck, belly and quarters of the 

 horse, is sometimes performed by stablemen m the 

 same way that a cook singes a fowl ; but it is more 

 frequently done with a knife having a moveable 

 back, suiTounded with tow moistened with spirits 

 of wine, and set on fire. As the knife is drawn over 

 the hairs, their points start up and are taken off by 

 the flame. 



