354 CLIPPING, SINGEING, AND TRIMMING. 



sound back tendons and suspensory ligament with the scissors, 

 than when shortening the hair on the infirm leg, so as to give 

 a nearly similar appearance, as regards size, to both legs. 



In the clipping of the legs, we should remember that the 

 tuft of hair which falls from the back of the fetlock, acts as a 

 protection to the back of the pasterns, which is a part very 

 liable to suffer from the bad effects of irritation and chill, 

 especially when its natural guard has been removed. 



If appearances have to be studied, we may delay the 

 autumn clipping until the coat has attained its full length, 

 say, about the beginning of November. The presence of 

 particularly long hairs (" cat hairs ") interspersed through the 

 coat, will indicate the completion of the growth. A prema- 

 ture exposure of the skin will spoil the look of the subsequent 

 coat. The animal will probably require a second clipping 

 before the end of the year. 



For singeing, a gas lamp is generally preferred to a mineral 

 oil one ; because its flame can be regulated with greater pre- 

 cision. It has the draw-back of its heat being more intense, 

 and consequently it is more liable to burn the horse than an 

 oil lamp. The heat from the flame of methylated spirits is 

 more feeble than that from burning paraffin oil. The long hair 

 about the lower jaw of a horse may be singed off by means 

 of a lighted candle or taper, such as is used by barbers for 

 singeing. 



TRIMMING AND BANGING. 



The hair of the fore-lock, mane and tail is useful to a 

 horse, chiefly as a defence against the attacks of flies. The 

 assistance which the mane gives when mounting, especially if 

 the animal be tall and fidgetty, or when a mishap occurs over 

 an obstacle, should be appreciated by every horseman. A 

 properly developed fore-lock will act as an efficient eye-fringe ; 

 a sufficiently long mane, when thrown from side to side by a 



