OR, The Turn Out. 127 



Some say they had their uses in " keeping the wet off ; " 

 but that local remedy was a poor and lumbering substitute 

 for the horse-cloth. 



It is extremely important Ihat the collar be lined with 

 best check, and faced between the straw and the check with 

 good, clean wool, and the shape of the collar fitted exactly 

 to the form of the horse's neck. Open topped collars 

 must be strapped perfectly tight— in fact the top strap in all 

 open collars, whether for use on the surface or under ground, 

 should only be punched one hole ; this will ensure the shape 

 and firmness of the collar being kept as much as possible. 



A cruel practice has been known to be indulged in for the 

 purpose of showing a cheap job in repairing, — which is done 

 at the expense of the horse, particularly in contract work, — 

 by simply covering the old and dirty lining with new check, 

 and passing the same off for " re-bodying and fresh straw- 

 ing and wooling," when, at the same time, the old filling 

 has neither been disturbed nor renewed in any way. Such 

 disgraceful workmanship is nothing more nor less than a 

 wicked robbery to the customer, and torture for the horse, 

 and would not be permitted in the workshop of any respect- 

 able and conscientious saddler ; but it is a well-known fact, 

 that, in addition to the above, nails and tacks have been 

 substituted for stitches by the unprincipled and cheap con- 

 tractor, and when it has become an absolute necessity for 

 re- wooling, the very cheapest, knotty, and dirty flocks have 

 been used, without the slightest consideration for the horse 

 or the reputation of the workman. 



In easing cart or other collars, holes should by no means 

 be cut into them, but the lining opened at the side piece, 

 turned back, and thus hollowed, as marked where the wound 

 lies, and made to miss the tender parts, faced with clean ^ 



wool, and quilted down, particularly in a cart collar or 

 saddle ; but if leather lined, as in stage or harness collars, 

 the part, after easing out, simply requires a wet sponge 

 rubbed over the leather and slightly malleted, and it will 

 then lie in the form desired. 



The saddle tree should be made sufficiently wide to allow 

 the pad to fit, and not to stand up or pinch the back. 



There is no real necessity for the saddle housings and 

 savors to be largre or heavily lined. 



