48 Centaur ; 



dispensed with. The constant and wide opening in putting on 

 and taking .off, causes the straw at the throat of" the collar 

 to break, and thus the firmness, so necessary in the build 

 of the collar, is lost, and oftimes the top strap is left com- 

 paratively slack or loose by the fitter, thus making the collar 

 1 in. longer than the fit by causing it to drop. ' The writer 

 is in favour of a light top, a light throat, good draught body- 

 side, and plenty of wool under the lining ; and thinks such 

 collars perfection, and the light buggy harness a real luxury 

 to sit behind ; at the same time the American light make of 

 harness would not suit the English roads for hard wear. 



In ordering a set of harness by letter, give the height and 

 a general description of the horse. If it be heavy, or light, 

 "and its proportion ; this, with the following further particu- 

 lars as to the collar, will be all that is necessary. 



To measure a horse for a collar, and to describe the want 

 and form required, is a matter of no great difiiculty, if an 

 old collar is at hand, that can easily be tried on to judge 

 by, and a piece of. stick, string, or tape cut to show the length, 

 allowing for the width of the old collar by adding ^-in. extra 

 to the length, although this measurement is a trouble sometimes 

 to the non-practical. But the proper way to measure a 

 horse's neck is with a 24-in. rule, from the near or left side, 

 with the right finger along the end of the rule, and the left 

 finger across the flat, to form a stop at top and bottom of the 

 horse's neck ; the left finger will shew the length required. 

 The distance or measurement is taken from the throat or left 

 hand end of the rule, which is pressed down close to the 

 shoulder, exactl}' where the rim of the collar would rest. If 

 a piped throated collar is necessary, one inch extra should be 

 allowed ; and if a full or sj^are neck, or any other peculiarity, 

 instructions can be easily given, or the necessarj^ items 

 observed. Should a little alteration, or even exchange, be 

 desirable, after a reasonable trial, the prompt and accomoda- 

 ting manufacturer will not hesitate to oblige, for his own 

 credit's sake, and for the safet}^ of the driver and the 

 comfort of the horse. There is an old and simple method of 

 measuring a horse for a collar, viz. — to run a tape round the 

 neck exactly where the collar will rest, and from the length 

 shewn deduct nine inches, and divide by two, which will give 

 the inside depth of the collar; for example — say the neck 

 measures 50 inches, deducting nine leaves 41 inches, dividing 

 by two shews the length required to be 20| inches, which is 

 the reliable size, thus the measure may be forwarded with 

 confidence to the saddler or harness maker. 



