CLIPPING. 87 



muscular exertion. Applying the simile of a man 

 taking off his great coat when he has to, say, run, row, 

 or cycle, and putting it on so as to avoid the ill effects 

 of chill when the exercise is at an end ; we may see 

 how reasonable it is to have hard-worked horses 

 clipped, and to protect their systems by adequate 

 clothing as soon as they have cooled down. If a horse 

 is not at work, there is no necessity for clipping him, 

 unless the presence of long hair distresses him. I have 

 frequently remarked in India, that the mere fact of 

 clipping a horse caused a marked improvement in his 

 condition. As the seasons of the year in the Antipodes 

 are the reverse of those in countries North of the 

 Equator, newly imported Australasian horses will, 

 unless relieved of it, carry during the hot weather an 

 abnormally long coat, which should be clipped off as 

 occasion demands. Such animals cannot be considered 

 to have become acclimatised until the functions of their 

 skin have accommodated themselves to the conditions 

 under which they are called upon to act. 



" With reference to the clipping of horses, I am of 

 opinion that it is a great advantage ; they work better- 

 after being clipped ; thrive on less food ; are less liable 

 to disease ; are stronger, healthier, and more cheerful ; 

 and when sick, recover in a much shorter time. It is 

 not my intention to discuss the question ; I merely wish 

 to counteract a ridiculous idea propounded by Mr. 

 Gamgee, that clipping is injurious to the horse. 



" I strongly recommend the Irish method of clipping, 

 namely, clipping all parts of the body except the legs. 

 The hair that is left on the legs protects them from 

 the irritation of wet and dirt ; and, when horses are 



