CLIPPING, SIITGEIKG AKD TRIMMIXG. 73 



CHAPTER V. 

 CLIPPING, SINGEING AND TRIMMING. 



Nothing connected with horse management has called out more 

 discussion than the practice of clipping and singeing. It is bitterly 

 opposed by many who assert that it is unnatural and cruel to deprive 

 the animal of a portion of its winter covering during the winter. 

 On the other hand, those in its favor claim that so far from rendering 

 the horse more liable to cold, clipping and singeing render him much 

 less so, as any active exercise while wearing a thick coat promotes 

 perspiration, and the moist mat of thick hair becomes cold and 

 clammy as soon as the motion ceases. In fact, the question depends 

 mainly on the time and manner of performing the operation and the 

 subsequent treatment of the horse. There is a right way and a wrong 

 way of doing it, and the differences of opinion have doubtless arisen 

 from the fact that the advocates of the practice have based their 

 opinions upon the proper treatment, and its opponents have seen only 

 its abuses. It cannot be questioned that the thick heavy winter coat 

 is provided by nature to protect the horse from inclemency of the 

 season when it is running at large. But it is wholly unsuited to the 

 stabled and well groomed animal from which rapid work is required. 

 When driven or ridden at a fast pace the horse in its winter coat 

 sweats profusely. When it is pulled up in this state, and made to 

 stand in the open air, or is returned to the st',),ble, with its thick 

 sweaty coat clinging to it, like a wet blanket, the result is not only 

 discomfort, but also liability to colds, coughs and other diseases of 

 the respiratory organs. True, nature provided the heavy winter 

 coat, but a horse which is rapidly driven, and properly stabled, 

 clothed, groomed and cared for, lives under conditions so highly 

 artificial as to materially alter the case. Miss Midy Morgan writes 

 on the subject as follows : 



"Why are horses clipped in winter? Wliy does the shrewd 

 horse owner divest the animal of the covering nature designed for 

 its protection? Horses are clipped for various reasons. In Europe 

 high-bred carriage horses and not infrequently hunters are denuded 

 of a portion of their heavier winter coatings of hair. This change 

 is made to check profuse perspiration and frequently to facilitate the 

 work of the groom. As soon as the chill autumn winds are felt, the 

 best cared for horses show signs of moulting ; their coats become 



