WAGES. 401 



gear, or even feeding ; his business being to make those under 

 him do their work properly, and to attend to the welfare of 

 his animals. He usually engages the other stable servants, 

 buys the fodder, and has a good deal to say to the purchase 

 of the horses. 



In a large mixed stable, the head groom might have charge 

 of the hunters ; the coachman, of the harness horses ; and the 

 stud groom, of the entire establishment. A smart stud groom 

 in a hunting stable would be expected to break and school, 

 and if need be, to train one or more of his horses for a hunt 

 steeplechase or point to point race. 



In a private racing stable we have the trainer, head lad, 

 riding lads, and may be one or more strappers. In a small 

 stable devoted to chasing and timber topping, and owned by 

 a man who would look after entries, etc., the duties of head 

 lad and trainer might be combined. Usually a riding lad will 

 be expected to do two horses ; but if he has to ride more 

 than once during the day, he cannot groom more than one 

 horse properly. As a rule, each valuable racehorse in training 

 would have the undivided services of a riding lad. In a large 

 public racing stable there would be two or more head lads 

 according to the number of horses trained. None of these 

 men would be required to do groom's work of any kind, and 

 one of ^them would probably be selected by the trainer to act 

 for him when he was absent. 



WAGES, BOARD AND LODGING. 



The pay of stable servants varies greatly according to 

 locality and place ; but out of London, it may be taken 

 generally as follows : Ordinary grooms, strappers and stable 

 helpers, from 1 8 shillings to a guinea a week; head grooms, 

 second horsemen and working coachmen, 25 shillings; head 

 lads, working stud grooms, and coachmen who would not have 

 to strap, 30 shillings ; stud grooms and head coachmen, from 



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