SADDLERY AND HARNESS. . 497 



the substance upon which it is overlaid must be exposed. The duration 

 of a modern ornament cannot be accurately stated ; but when the chiei 

 body was of iron, the contrast presented by the coarser metal and the 

 silvered surface rendered repeated renewals unavoidable : whereas the 

 integrity of the superficial layer is not so important when the bulk, bott 

 in color and in aspect, is a fair imitation of the more precious invest- 

 ment. For this reason, Messrs. Gibson always recommend the use ot 

 plated German silver, which, if a trifle dearer to the purchaser, proves 

 in the end the most economical, besides being a superior article from the 

 commencement. 



Buckles are of much use, as these allow the harness to be adjusted; 

 but no buckles can adjust that which is not properly made. The tight- 

 ening or loosening of a strap may improve the set ; but a suit of well- 

 constructed harness should be so accurately proportioned as to fall into 

 its proper place without the aid of manual strength or the repeated 

 alteration of the various fastenings. When harness does not fit, the 

 collar either pains the shoulders or the saddle galls the back. An animal 

 cannot progress steadily when its attention is engrossed by bodily suf- 

 fering. The sight is no longer employed to guide the steps. The foot 

 is incautiously placed upon a stone ; the steed stumbles over the first in- 

 equality ; or, the mind being excited by pain, any object may alarm or 

 startle the quadruped. The animal is blamed, and has been destroyed 

 because of such accidents ; whereas the real cause of the mischief was 

 a badly -made set of cheap harness, which was probably worn for the 

 first occasion, and which the owner may have journeyed forth specially 

 to display. 



Such mishaps should caution the public always to have the trappings 

 of a horse made for the quadruped ; or, at all events, altered by a proper 

 tradesman, before allowing them to be employed. The difference of cost 

 between the ready-made article and the goods which are manufactured 

 to order is not more than a third of the outlay ; while the products of 

 any respectable house will, upon an average, last twice as long as, and 

 need infinitely less repairing than, the rubbish which is sold "cheap." 

 Therefore, by true economy, by durability, and by safety, the public 

 should be urged to a particular selection. 



The gentleman, however, who contemplates "starting his horse," must 

 not conceive the expenditure has terminated with the purchase of the 

 animal. There are stables to rent and a groom to hire. Then there is 

 the building to provide and to furnish ; a saddle and a bridle to procure ; 

 with a set of harness and a vehicle to obtain. Rent and servant neces- 

 sitate no immediate outlay. Hay, oats, and straw may possibly be ac- 

 quired upon short credit; but stable furniture, saddlery, harness, and 



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