226 



DRAUGHT AND HARNESS. 



narrow at its under part in proportion to what it is 

 somewhat higher up, whereas it should be from 1 to 1| 

 inch wider at its base than anywhere else. Fig. 18 

 shows a front view of a horse's shoulders, and as the 

 collar never need come much lower down than the 

 dotted line t t, it is very evident what its shape should 



be, both internally and exter- 

 nally. The rim, when in pro- 

 cess of construction, naturally 

 takes a different and more 

 regularly oval shape, which 

 is probably the reason why 

 failures a.re so frequent ; much 

 can, however, be modified in 

 the stuffing. ' Magenta ' ' gives 

 at p. 60 of the ' Handy Horse- 

 Book,' a very good model, 

 and places a good reinforce- 

 ment of stuffing just opposite 

 to the place where, according 

 to our ideas, the trace should 

 be attached. We wind up 

 this part of our subject with 

 the advice, when fitting a 

 collar, not to content one's 

 self with adjusting it to the 

 horse's neck and shoulders when standing. The horse 

 should be put into action ; if actually in draught, so 

 much the better, because the shape and dimensions of 

 the neck and shoulders are wonderfully altered in some 

 horses when they come to trot or even walk, especially 

 high-crested animals. A collar that appeared quite long 

 enough for a horse when standing at ease, will frequently 



Fig. 18. 



