120 MODERN FARKIER. 



harass them in the summer months. When our 

 cavalry are sent abroad, the loss of the horses' tails 

 proves a very serious obstacle to the success of the 

 troops. More than one instance of this has occurred. 

 At the battle of Dettingen, in 1743, great part of 

 the British cavalry were absolutely dismountedy 

 from the death of the horses, occasioned in a great 

 measure by the torment which they experienced 

 from the bite of gad-flies and other insects ; and at | 

 the battle of JMinden, in the seven years war, the 

 cavalry of the allies were thrown into so much dis- 

 order by these petty enemies, that they had nearly j 

 lost the battle. Lord Pembroke declares, that he i 

 has seen the cavalry horses belonging to our army | 

 sweating, rushing against each other, refusing their 

 food, and absolutely devoured by flies, for want of 

 their tails to brush them off; while those of the ,; 

 horses of the foreign cavalrv that had not been de- 

 prived of this necessary defence, were cool, tranquil, 

 fed well, and were in good condition. 



It is argued, 1st, That a long tail is extremely in- 

 convenient vv^hen travelling ; 2d, That a short tail 

 strengthens the back, by requiring less nutriment 

 from the body ; and, 3d, that a fine, arched, cocked 

 tail is a beautiful object. Now the alledged inconve- 

 niences of a natural formed tail are extremely trifling,! 

 and are not to be compared with the advantages it 

 possesses. The opinion that docking strengthens 

 the back is, to say the best of it, extremely pro- 

 blematical ; and we think few unprejudiced men 

 will deny, that a horse with a long tail is a mucl 

 finer object than one that is prepetually perking anc 

 wriggling his tail in the air, and exposing his bare 

 breech to the broad stare of open day. 



The manner of performing this operation is aj 

 follows :— Secure the animal by putting a tvv' itch in 

 his nose, and tying up one of his fore-legs. Theii 

 feel Yvith your finger and thumb for tlie thii'd jointf 

 from the setting on of the horse's tail ; raise up the , 



