540 HISTORY OF THE 



pad-cloth and hood ; the latter piece being now, we 

 believe, generally used to throw over the horse's 

 loins after he has been dressed, instead of what 

 was formerly called the fillet cloth. 



These different pieces are secured with proper 

 rollers and strings ; but as these and other details 

 are now perfectly understood by all first-rate 

 saddlers, it is not necessary to proceed with further 

 details ; a few general explanations and remarks 

 is, therefore, all we propose to offer. 



The clothes commonly called the sweaters are 

 made of swan's skin, a sort of woollen stuff. They 

 consist of nearly the same pieces as those above- 

 mentioned, and care should be taken that the sheet 

 is of sufficient size to cover the whole body, 

 shoulders and quarters of the horse, and to lap 

 well over beneath his belly ; for which purpose Mr. 

 Darvill observes, that the centre part of it should 

 be nearly two yards and a half long. According 

 to the same authority, the breast-cloth or sweater 

 should be made full three yards in length, and 

 three quarters of a yard in breadth. 



Judging from the prints of horses sweating, 

 dated the middle of the last century, the hood was 

 not then in use ; nor are we aware when this most 

 essential article of clothing was first introduced. 

 Of those used in sweating, when only one hood is 

 required, it should have ears to it ; but in the case of 

 more than one being required, the last only should 

 have them, to enable the groom to put them on 



