TRIMMING AND BANGING. 357 



2. Bind the tail round with a piece of cord, about six inches 

 above the point at which it is to be divided. Then, with a 

 sharp knife, cut the hair so as to give its ends the required 

 slope. 



3. Lay the tail at the desired length, across the edge of a 

 broad adze, and divide the hair by a smart blow with a flat 

 billet of wood. The adze should be held steady, the handle to 

 the rear, the edge horizontal, and the blade sloped, so that the 

 horse may carry his tail level at a walk. Any loose hairs may 

 then be trimmed with a scissors. This is an admirable plan 

 for troopers, with which despatch and uniformity are matters 

 of consideration. For use with a large number of horses, a 

 blade resembling that of an adze, but broader, may be let 

 into a block of wood 4 or 5 Ibs. in weight. 



The coarse bristles (tentacula or feelers) which are about the 

 muzzle of a horse, proceed from roots that are largely supplied 

 with nerves, and consequently these hairs can act as delicate 

 organs of touch. As a horse is not provided with hands or 

 paws, he is dependent chiefly on his muzzle for purposes of 

 feeling, a fact which is proved by the presence of these bristles 

 on it, and by the great mobility of his upper lip. The bristles 

 on the muzzle no doubt materially aid a horse in the selection 

 and gathering of food. Also, the feelers about his eyes would 

 help to save his eyes from blows when he is moving about in 

 the dark. As all these bristles conduce to his well-being, they 

 should be retained, despite their being regarded by some 

 persons as an eye-sore. Like the hairs of the coat they 

 gradually thin out towards their ends. Consequently, their 

 action as organs of touch would be interfered with by cutting 

 them, which operation would also lessen their pliability. We 

 may therefore conclude, that if the bristles round a horse's 

 muzzle be cut, he will suffer from discomfort, if not pain, when 

 he attempts to feed, or when he is handled about the mouth, as 

 for instance, in bridling him. Besides, clipping them gives a 



