CLIPPING OFTEN INDUCES NEGLECT. 217 



Notwithstanding this, if I could not get a pair of 

 scissors, I would haggle off a horse's coat with a pair 

 of blunt shears till he looked like a ploughed field, 

 rather than have a long coat on him. Of one thing 

 I am quite sure since clipping became so universal, 

 hundreds of horses show long coats that formerly 

 would have had fine ones ; that is, among those 

 trusted to servants, such as carriage- horses and 

 London hacks. Why should John or James strap to 

 keep a horse fine when clipping will do it? In fact, 

 the rougher he looks in the proper season, the better 

 for them : " Master will be sure to have him clipped." 

 Mem. I believe they do not usually clip in Arabia 

 or Persia. So much for warmth! 



Having stated the kind of treatment that I consider 

 will render the foal docile, good-tempered, and fearless 

 as a foal, and also that as likely to force him up into 

 a fine horse eventually, I will now mention the treat- 

 ment I would venture to recommend when he has 

 left the mother. 



As every man who breeds has not the same con- 

 veniences for his mares or stock, in the shape of pad- 

 docks, hovels, &c., all each can do is to afford them 

 the best accommodation he can : and indeed, provided 

 the colt is kept secure, dry, comfortably warm, and 

 moreover in a healthful situation, it matters little 

 where he is kept : nor indeed have I any intention of 

 recapitulating those general or minute directions for 

 breeding that have been better given by others than 

 they would be by me. My only intention in com- 

 mencing the Papers on Educating Horses was a wish 

 to induce persons intrusted with the care of them so 

 to familiarise themselves with them, and so to lead 

 the animal on by habit into the meeting our wishes, 



