CH. XVI COACH-HORSES 387 



can do eleven, he will easily do nine, which is quite 

 within his powers. 



A team to a private coach not too heavily loaded 

 ought to do from eighteen to twenty miles in an 

 afternoon drive, on fairly level roads, and can do, 

 day after day, from twenty-four to twenty-six miles, 

 divided into two parts, with a couple of hours for 

 rest and feed in the middle of the day. 



Horses are usually clipped in the winter ; indeed 

 at any season, when they require it for appearance, 

 and it undoubtedly adds much to their comfort 

 when doing fast work. In our climate, however, 

 it must not be forgotten that they sometimes re- 

 quire the protection of a blanket when they are 

 not moving ; it is thoughtless and cruel to keep 

 them standing uncovered on a cold day. 



The length of the tails of coach-horses is a matter 

 of fashion. In the early part of the 19th century the 

 tails of all horses were cut short (or docked), and 

 pricked (by cutting the under sinews), so that they 

 stood up very high (see Cordery's Picture, Plate I.). 

 Later, the tails were banged ; that is, cut square 

 just at the end of the bone, as the tails of race 

 horses are now ; and the fashion has ao-ain come 

 round to the very short tail, but without pricking. 

 Undoubtedly, the tail being short makes the horse 

 look ' smarter' and prevents his getting it over the 

 rein. The very long tails of the trotters of some 

 years ago would certainly look out of place in front 

 of a coach. 



