CH. XI COLLAR 20Q 



russet leather, which last is rather ' smart' looking 

 when it is dark brown. What are called ' straw col- 

 lars' are really made either of split rattan, or of a 

 kind of rush ; they have no particular advantages. 



The lining against the horse's neck is of soft 

 leather, black or russet, or sometimes of thin and 

 very smoothly worked patent leather. The latter 

 has the advantage of being easily kept perfectly 

 clean by sponging, and, in warm weather especially, 

 is, perhaps, preferable to any other lining. 



Cloth, or woollen of any kind, is not good, al- 

 though many heavy collars for carts, and the like, 

 are so lined ; it absorbs the sweat, and is difficult 

 to dry. A collar must be so stuffed as to be soft 

 and elastic. 



The shape of the collar is, of course, of the first 

 importance ; if it is too wide, it will slip about side- 

 ways, and rub the shoulders ; as a rule, the width 

 that permits it to go easily over the horse's head 

 will be right for the shoulders. A horse with a very 

 wide head and thin neck requires a collar which can 

 be opened at the top, in order to put it on, or the 

 collar must have a lining which can be fitted into 

 it to reduce its width. This lining- should have a 

 roll at each edge, to prevent it from slipping out of 

 place. 



A collar should be of such a length that the 

 four fingers of the hand, held vertically, can be 

 readily inserted between it and the neck when the 

 horse holds his head in a natural position, or else 



14 



