46 Centaur ; 



a rush or series of sudden jerks towards the ears, for under 

 such circumstances it invariably happens that the head of the 

 horse goes with the pressure and not against it, thus losing 

 both power and time. The usual practice is, that a gentle 

 twist be brought to bear with the hand each side the 

 draught of the collar, and the housing, if any, pressed some- 

 what under towards the neck, and with the corresponding help 

 fi'om the horse, the collar is easily and quieth'' passed beyond the 

 ears. It should then be immediatel}^ turned over into its 

 proper position, housing up being reversed the way of the 

 mane, and at once carried down to the shoulders.* The old- 

 fashioned way of fixing the hames upon the collar while it is 

 close to the ears at the top of the neck, and before it is 

 reversed, is very reprehensii3le, being tiring and irritating 

 both to man anr) horse, and also causes a larger amount of 

 operating in front of the animal than is necessary, and like- 

 wise adds materially to the weight, encumbrance, and risk 

 incurred in throwing the collar, hames, and traces round the 

 animaFs neck, besides causing unnecessar}^ pain to the horse. 



Before putting the hames on, it is important to know that 

 they fit the collar exactly ; in fact, the writer, as a rule, makes 

 it a special point to have them fitted in form to the identical 

 collar by the hame maher, before the collar is side pieced or 

 finished, thus preventing any fear of their slipping off in 

 wear by ensuring a perfect fit. That the hames should not 

 move or spring from the position in which they are placed 

 is a matter of serious moment — hence the importance of sound 

 straps. The hames must not reach the top of the collar, 

 neither must they be too short, say about 2 in. from the top. 

 Make-shift cannot, compatible with safety, be applied to this 

 portion of the harness under any circumstances. Any prac- 

 tical saddler, or harness furniture manufacturer, will safely 

 adjust the hames to the collar, and the proper length required 

 for that particular collar. In nicely and promptly fixing 

 the hames it is necessary to buckle them lightly to the collar 

 for the time, during the process of running the hands round 

 them to see that the3'' are properly adjusted ; after which the top 

 strap is pulled up as close or tight as possible. Hames up to 

 21 inches should measure 1 inch longer than the collar, and 

 over 21 inches, 1^ inch should be allowed extra. The 

 hames, when fitted, should never reach the top of the collar 

 by at least 2 inches, as before mentioned. The hames are 

 the most important part of the whole set of harness furniture, 



* This of course will be understood to apply only to horses that do not require 

 an open-topped collar. 



