TBIMMING.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[trimming. 



times. At one period, a switch tail ; at an- 

 other ; a full bushy tail ; then a blood tail ; then 

 another; and then again a short switch tail, 

 about a foot and a-half long. This being the 

 case, it may here be as well to make a few re- 

 marks upon them separately and individually. 

 The switch tail requires no cutting ; the long 

 hair being left on it after the end of the dock 

 is broken off, is pulled underneath, and at the 

 sides, with an iron instrument, made for the 

 purpose— but now seldom to be seen, except 

 m the carter's stables— till it is tapered to 

 a point, leaving only about eight inches below 

 the dock. 



There is much reason in this sort of tail, 

 seeing that nature designed this appendage to 

 strike the flies from the bodies of such animals as 

 are possessed of one. Man, however, to accom- 

 modate himself, denudes the brute of its natural 

 property, simply because the tail annoys him 

 when it is switched about in hot or dirty wea- 

 ther, thus depriving the animal of that which | 

 was intended for its own especial comfort. 



The bushy tail is permitted, to preserve all 

 the hair that grows upon it. Holding the tail 

 to that elevation in which the animal usually 

 carries it, the scissors are employed to cut in 

 a perpendicular direction, within about half an 

 inch of the end of the dock. There is much 

 art and ingenuity in cutting tails of this kind 

 perfectly square, leaving both sides of equal 

 length, and permitting no projections or hol- 

 lows at the end. 



The brush-tail was formerly deemed suitable 

 to such horses as were well nicked, and carried 

 it high, and bent upwards. A tail of this kind 

 was rounded in such a manner, that, when it 

 was up, it resembled the hair of a brush. Much 

 ingenuity is required to cut it true and even. 



The blood tail has been in vogue for many 

 years, and is perhaps the most becoming of 

 any. It requires the least art or ingenuity in 

 cutting. The hair has only to be combed out 

 and held together with the left hand, when the 

 ends are cut oft square, at a proper length, 

 generally about three inches below the end of 

 the dock. After this it is combed out, and 

 any irregularities that may appear are taken 

 away. The hair of the blood horse's tail is 

 generally thin, and of an easy flowing nature ; 

 and having always a becoming appearance, is, 

 as we have said, greatly iu fashion. 

 128 



The thin tail is a mean representation of the 

 blood tail; and tails of half or inferior bred 

 horses, are fuller and more bushy than those of 

 blood animals. Hence, to bring these to some 

 resemblance of the blood tail, the under hair 

 is plucked to thin it, and by such means they 

 are made to appear like a thin ragged tail. 

 The ends are squared in the same manner as 

 blood tails are done. 



Thin-tailed horses have, in general, been re- 

 marked to be good ones. But the difierenco 

 between them and blood animals is easily dis- 

 covered; and for this reason should, perhaps, 

 be more properly denominated ragged-tailed. 



After all these operations, which we have so 

 minutely described, there only remains for the 

 mane to be pulled and singed. To do this, 

 first, comb it thoroughly, laying it very smooth 

 and even. Then begin at the top, and taking 

 hold of a few of the longest hairs at the points 

 with the right hand, separate them from the 

 other hair, by moving the comb in an upward 

 direction. If you have hold of no more than 

 would be about the thickness of a straw, twist 

 the hair round the back of the comb, and pluck 

 it out. Continue to act iu like manner till 

 that part is reduced to the thinness and length 

 desired. Proceed in the same way down the 

 mane, making all alike, and repeatedly combing 

 it out. Hairs left longer than the rest must 

 be plucked, not cut. The fore-top is a great 

 ornament, and should be left long, so that it 

 will tuck under the bridle, and reach three or 

 lour inches below. The extreme ragged points 

 may be taken off" with the scissors, so that the 

 mane may be left thin at the points. It is not 

 to be squared, however, so as to look thick and 

 bushy. Singeing now finishes the operation of 

 trimming. Eough horses, newly taken from 

 grass, usually require a good deal of singeing 

 all over,, they having long downy hair project- 

 ing beyond the rest of their coats. 



Eor the purpose of singeing, a candle with a 

 large wick is required, and the head is the first 

 part to commence with. The long downy hair 

 which projects beyond the rest, may be singed 

 to a level with the coat. The outside of the 

 ears will have some; and there will be much at 

 the bur of these. The candle must not be kept 

 long in one place, or it may burn the animal ; 

 therefore, where there is much singeing re- 

 quired, it is better to rub the singed part, to 



