38 THE HORSE. 



with their margins, and left otherwise untouched, as a 

 defence against cold and the intrusion of external ob- 

 jects. The mane is pulled with the fingers, which 

 horses seem to bear without pain, a proper quantity of 

 it being left to hang lightly and smoothly on the off 

 (right) side of the neck ; at the upper extremity of 

 which, it is shorn close, to admit the headstall of the 

 bridle, leaving, detached from the mane, the foretop, 

 which is cut to reach a little down the forehead, be- 

 neath the front of the bridle. The tail of the saddle 

 horse is cut of a middling length, long and full tails 

 being seldom seen in England, excepting perhaps on 

 some few ladies' pads and on military horses. 



The heels are trimmed close, with comb and scissars, 

 seldom any tuft of hair being left as formerly : but hair 

 is generally left on the heels and legs of cart horses. 

 Ponies and galloways are sometimes hogged, which 

 is to say, their manes are cut so as to stand erect like 

 the bristles of a hog. 



Breaking and training the draught horse is a 

 matter of far less complexity and difficulty, than are 

 experienced with those destined to the saddle. A 

 cart colt may, and probably most are, put to work 

 early; for example, at tw T o years old, granting the 

 work be very moderate and the treatment gentle. It is 

 necessary that this species, as well as the other, have 

 a good mouth given them ; and when first put to work, 

 care should be taken that the collar and harness be 

 not rough and hard, to chafe and gall the skin of the 

 animal yet unaccustomed to such incumbrance. In 

 fact, the draught horse, whether for quick or slow 

 draught, being fast bound to obedience by his harness, 



