18 THE CARE OF HORSES 



cleaning brasses, windows, and steps. If the bin is 

 low, cut some chaff, take down cobwebs and dust your 

 stable, clean up odd harness, etc. Even if you are 

 engaged ' to look after a pony (or horse) and make 

 yourself generally useful ' there is always time to do 

 these things. To keep places and things clean and as 

 they ought to be kept, do everything thoroughly at the 

 time, and a little regular looking after will keep them 

 right. Forget such a phrase as ' Oh, that will do,' 

 or ' That's near enough.' Try my plan, and you 

 will find it answer. 



You often hear people say : ' My man is no good ; 

 he lets things go day after day, and his work has got 

 above him. The place is like a pigsty !' And it 

 will be, too. Always have a pail of clean water 

 standing ready for use. 



While you have a few minutes to spare, and before 

 your trap returns, let us have a word about harness. 

 The bridle is a very important item as to fit ; the 

 cheek-straps should be just the right length, so that 

 when the reins are tightened they don't bulge, allow- 

 ing the horse to see behind. I speak of those bridles 

 which still retain blinkers. I hope the day is not far 

 distant when blinkers will be done away with, as they 

 are in our colonies and in most foreign countries. 

 I don't believe so many horses would shy and show 

 other signs of nervousness if they were trained to 

 harness work without blinkers. The unknown is 

 always more or less terrifying, and if an animal 

 hears a sound and can't see what causes it, can you 

 wonder at the fright and fear he feels ? Have the 

 throat-strap, too, fairly tight, so that he can't toss 

 the bridle off, and see always that the blinkers do 

 not pinch to or close over the eyes, but are level and 

 give plenty of room, as shown in Fig. 7. The 

 illustration, too, shows a proper and well-fitting 

 collar. 



