114 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



The wear and tear on these things, especially 

 on the groom's requisites, is so heavy that the 

 question may well be asked why not make him 

 an allowance and compel him to keep the stock 

 of requisites up to a certain standard. Such a 

 plan looks very well on paper ; but whoever 

 formulates it has had little experience with horses 

 and those who attend to them. In a small 

 establishment the eye of the master, in a large 

 one that of a sharp stud groom, are the best 

 economisers of the tools. 



A groom will look after a couple of horses 

 well ; indeed an industrious man who knows 

 his work will do three if he has a little assistance 

 in the exercising. I know of many singlehanded 

 establishments in which three horses are well 

 done by a good man — one who knows how to 

 ' lay himself on,' and who is a good worker. 

 Such a man takes a keen interest in his horses, 

 is always eager to know how they have carried 

 their owner, and never thinks anything a trouble 

 which conduces to their welfare. But such a 

 man is not met with every day ; and when he is 

 he should be treated with all consideration. 



This unfortunately is not always the case. 

 A man who has the welfare of his horses at 

 heart will be astir betimes and get out of the 

 stable as soon as he can so that his horses may 

 take their rest. Then when he has got his saddle 

 room straightened up he has nothing to do till 

 stable time. In singlehanded establishments 

 this time is too frequently seized upon by the 



