CLIPPING H0IISE8. 257 



share of coat left on his body. It is true at the time 

 of year that horses are now ridden in the park their 

 coat is naturally short ; but, mutatis mutandis, the 

 same difference holds good as regards the required 

 condition and coat of horses used merely for what to 

 them is exercise and others in strong work. 



It may be very well for the coachman of a noble- 

 man or man of fortune to have his horses singed close ; 

 but it would be perfectly absurd for a medical man to 

 permit his horses to submit to the same process ; and 

 the coachman of an old dowager, who keeps her horses 

 shivering while she is shopping, or at night finishing 

 a rubber at whist, would neither show his judgment or 

 honesty in having his horses all but denuded : the 

 fool or lazy fellow who would, should be made wait 

 with his horses in his shirt only. If gentlemen will 

 exercise their own discretion and judgment, or take 

 that of others (and not the grooms), in seeing that 

 the coat is only shortened in proportion to the work 

 required of their horses, I recommend singeing them 

 as a means by which their servant is saved useless 

 trouble, the appearance of the animal much improved, 



s 



