4.76 The Book at the Horse. 



More than fifty years ago it was the common practice in the south of France and the 

 north of Spaui to clip mules in the spring with a pair of sheep-shears. The idea of clipping 

 horses was fiist introduced into this country by officers of our army, who had seen it prac- 

 tised during the Peninsular War in Spain. At any rate, the practice was discussed as a 

 novelty by " Nimrod," in the old Spoi-ting Magazine, in 1825, and it was still under dis- 

 cussion in 1S40, when Stewart published the last edition of his capital book on " Stable 

 Economy." 



After clipping came singeing, and one or other is in use every autumn in almost every 

 stable of horses used for fast work, either in saddle or harness. 



Here and there one may meet with some gentleman, or professor of the old school, who 

 protests against depriving the horse of his native protection against winter cold, as a base 

 concession to the laziness of grooms, but the world of horse-owners does not stop to argue 

 with them, but goes on clipping or singeing every autumn, greatly to the relief of both horses 

 and servants. 



It may safely be taken for granted that there must be substantial merit in any practice, 

 process, or nutriment that is adopted after violent opposition. According to some enthusiasts, 

 the world is being slowly poisoned by the continued use of tea, coffee, and tobacco, while 

 others trace "all the ills that flesh is heir to" to the consumption of salt. But no one listens 

 to them, because daily experience contradicts their theories and their facts. 



If you have a horse with a naturally fine coat, and if you can secure his getting the 

 amount of grooming that will keep his coat silky through the winter season, by all means 

 keep away the clipping machine and the singeing-iron. But this is rarely the case. Fine 

 coats on undipped horses are usually maintained by keeping the stable like a hothouse, to 

 the danger of the eyes and lungs of the inmates. Besides, a horse that has once been singed 

 or clipped, will require an annual repetition of the process. 



Mr. J. Froude Bellew, Master of the Dulverton Hounds, North Devon, which he hunts 

 himself, and who " has been a hard-riding horse-master ever since he was fourteen years old," 

 wrote me in March, 1878, as to his treatment of hunters : — 



" A couple of cloths on each horse, windows and ventilators always open according to 

 the direction of the wind, and my horses look better in their skins now (loth March) than they 

 did at midsummer, and why.' because clipping and singeing was stopped in the middle of 

 November. Clip or singe as early and as often as you please, but stop on the 12th of 

 November. 



"After work no leg-washing; if wet, they are quickly dried with sawdust. 



"Instead of felt or other saddle-cloth, I use a light plain leather pannel well saturated 

 with tallow, which keeps the horse's back cool. Fasten it firmly with a surcingle to the 

 horse's back, then put saddle over it. There is no greater mistake than the military nnvnnah, 

 which, soaked with sweat, keeps the horse's back in a perpetual poultice, and is a direct 

 cause of sore and soft backs. As to girths, I prefer and use the open stamped leather 

 girth ; a great improvement on the non-ventilating web. As a matter of course, I take it for 

 granted the horses intended to have fine coats after singeing or clipping are properly strapped. 

 Elbow-grease must not be spared if you want }'our horses to look well. My horses never 

 want a V.S. ; no one of the profession has been seen in my stables for the last sixteen years. 

 In the hunting season they have plenty of old beans (half a peck a day) and oats, no bran, 

 no powders, but a liberal allowance of linseed oil and turpentine once, and often twice a 

 weeli." 



