A DAY'S WORK IN THE STABLE 15 



leave it standing in the stable full, and never keep a 

 dirty barrowful of manure just outside the stable- 

 door ; it looks very slovenly, is very unpleasant for 

 people visiting the stable, and in the summer-time it 

 breeds countless flies. 



If you are expecting orders for a harness job, see 

 that all the harness is ready ; dust it over, and give 

 a final rub-up to the bit and mountings : see, too, 

 that there are ' no screws loose ' — that is, stitches 

 gone or straps cracked and likely to give way before 

 the day's work is done. 



If it is a saddle-horse or horses that will be wanted, 

 look well to your saddles, that they are dry and 

 clean ; give them a rub over with saddle-soap, and 

 see that the girths are strong and clean and the 

 girth-straps are safe ; just rub up the stirrups and 

 put them on the saddles ; draw them up on the 

 leathers, so that they are out of the way ; also run 

 your eye over the bridle and reins. 



Here come your orders : ' Dogcart in twenty 

 minutes.' ' Very good, sir.' 



No; don't begin to fluster and worry yourself; 

 everything is all clean and ready to use. Move 

 quickly, knowing quite well what is to be done and 

 how to do it. 



Take your set of harness into the stable, and place 

 it in order on the hook provided for that purpose. 

 With a clean rubber over your shoulder, approach 

 your horse on the near or left side, speaking to him 

 as you do so — ' Woa, my lad !' or something of that 

 sort. Remove the roller and rug as before described, 

 then the headstall ; get your horse round, as I have 

 already told you how ; once more dust him over ; 

 put on the collar ; don't jerk or shove it on, but mind, 

 above all things, to have it straight, or you will hurt 

 the horse's eyes, and many such careless blunders 

 will soon make an animal ' a nasty one to harness 



