158 ON CLOTHING, ETC. 



the belly of a race-horse, either when he is sweating or 

 in physic, a body-sweater or sheet may be used for the 

 purpose. But these quarter-pieces should be longer 

 than those used for horses in common. They should 

 reach back within a hand's breadth of the top of the 

 horse's tail, and come well forward over his withers 

 and shoulders. And it would be well to substitute a 

 softer material for the leather, which is mostly placed 

 on this part of the quarter-piece, to give a firm hold to 

 the straps which secure the breast-cloth ; or if it be of 

 leather, I think that of which the seats of saddles are 

 made is to be preferred ; boys' knuckles would then be 

 less liable to be chafed when riding hard pulling 

 horses. Inside of the sheets and quarter-pieces, there 

 should be Igops to attach the quarter-strings to, to 

 prevent the clothes from blowing up at exercise when 

 the wind is high ; but when the horses are in the 

 stable, and working off their physic, they should be 

 taken off; and so they should also with mares. Or, 

 instead of these quarter-strings to keep the clothes 

 down when the horses are out on a windy day, I think 

 that loops on each side the centre and back part of the 

 quarter-piece and sheet would be more convenient, so 

 that a piece of binding might be attached to these 

 loops, in the way of cruppers, with such horses as 

 would bear it. 



The clothes next to be described are those which are 

 termed the sweaters. They are made of white woollen 

 stuff called swan's skin. The hood is to be made 

 without ears, and this for the convenience of putting 



