16() ON CLOTHING, ETC. 



knee-caps are to be used, such as I have here given a 

 description of, will, I think, be found to answer the 

 purpose. In putting them on, the upper buckle and 

 strap should be sufficiently tightened to keep the boot 

 from passing over the joint of the knee, nor does it re- 

 quire to be drawn very tight to answer this purpose, if 

 the buckle and strap below be left quite slack, so that 

 the horse's action does not produce any strain what- 

 ever on the upper knee-cap. Knee-caps being used 

 for travelling, are, like boots, exposed to wet and dirt ; 

 therefore, after they are taken off, they should be dried, 

 brushed, and made soft. 



The things which are next made use of about the 

 fore legs of such horses as may require them, are fet- 

 ters. They are made similar to couples which are 

 used for the coupling of dogs together ; the chain 

 should be from ten to twelve inches in length, with an 

 inch and a quarter triangular link at each end. The 

 straps which are to go round the pastern of the horse's 

 leg is to be seventeen inches in length, and an inch and 

 a quarter in breadth. Along the inside, from where the 

 buckle is put on, those straps should be lined for the 

 space of eleven inches with check kersey, or soft lea- 

 ther. Whichever lining may be used, should be of a 

 a sufficient width to turn down over the edges of the 

 strap, to prevent friction. 



Their use is to prevent horses from knocking their 

 beds about, and also to prevent them from throwing 

 their legs about at the time of their being dressed. 

 With such horses as have contracted this habit, thev 



