356 CLIPPING, SINGEING, AND TRIMMING. 



A space of about an inch and a half broad should be cut out 

 of the mane, just behind the ears, for the crown-piece of the 

 bridle. 



When hogging the mane of a pony, it is customary, in order 

 to help the rider in mounting, to leave a lock of hair, which to 

 be effective should be about half-way up the neck. The easiest 

 and neatest way to hog the mane, is to cut it close, running 

 the clipping machine along the top of the crest, and then on 

 each side, so as to make the hair level. The old plan of 

 hogging the mane, so as to leave a bristling ridge of hair, is 

 tedious in execution and has a bad effect, in that, instead of 

 preserving the natural outline of the neck, it gives the part an 

 abnormally thick and high-crested appearance. 



A switch tail may be trimmed in the same way as the 

 mane. 



The tails of thoroughbreds, which are very rarely docked, 

 are generally banged at such a length that when the 

 tail is pulled down, the ends of its hairs will reach to the point 

 of the hock, or two or three inches higher. " The tails of 

 officers' chargers, troop and detachment horses, are to be cut to 

 such a length as to reach from 6 to 8 inches above the hock. 

 The tails of draught horses will be cut to reach from 8 to 10 

 inches above the hock " (Queen's Regulations). 



It is not the custom to dock or bang the tails of Arabs ; a 

 fine, thin tail being considered to be one of the marks of high 

 caste among them. The supposed object of banging a horse's 

 tail, is to add to the appearance of strength in his hind 

 quarters. 



The following methods may be used for banging the tail : 



i. Get an assistant to place his hand under the dock, and to 

 hold the tail in a position similar to that which it would assume 

 when the animal is walking ; then cut the hair level at the 

 desired length with a specially made pair of shears, or with a 

 strong pair of scissors. 



