448 CHANGE-STABLES CH. XIX 



which should be noted all purchases and losses, 

 or die articles will rapidly disappear. Every man 

 should have a strong canvas bao- for his kit and be 

 required to keep all his tools in it. Each horse 

 should have a number branded on his fore hoof, 

 and his collar, with a corresponding number per- 

 manently fastened on it, must always go with him 

 when he changes his stable, otherwise changes of 

 collars will give endless annoyance due to sore 

 necks. The best way to mark a collar is by a 

 brass number on the small cape, which, for that 

 purpose, should be put upon the top of a coaching 

 collar (p. 2 10). 



Whether or not the horses should have loin ruo-s 

 to be thrown over them while they are standing, 

 depends upon the climate, the time of year, and 

 somewhat upon the fancy of the owner. They are 

 more important at the ends of the road, where the 

 horses stand for some time while the passengers are 

 ofettino- on the coach. At the chancres, if the time is 

 kept punctually, they are not so necessary, since the 

 horses should be brought out only a few minutes 

 before the coach arrives, and they can have thrown 

 over them their stable rues, which, when the coach 

 appears, can be pulled off and laid aside, ready to 

 be put on the horses which are taken from the 

 coach ; rough canvas rugs are good for this purpose. 



If loin rugs are used, they should be unitorm 

 throughout the road; they certainly look 'smart,' 

 but they are apt to fall off" if the horses caper while 



