STABLES 265 



moved to give a trim appearance, while some feather at least is 

 desirable on the draft horse, to augment the appearance of bone, 

 and even mild blisters may be resorted to for the purpose of 

 stimulating its growth. 



Business horses may have foretops trimmed and tails blocked 

 as a matter of convenience. In stables of 100 horses, for in- 

 stance, the additional time required in doing up and brushing 

 out a long tail in bad weather is a considerable item in labor. 



Partial clipping consists in removing the hair from the legs 

 but not from the body, as is frequently done with business and 

 road horses; or the reverse, as is customary with hunters, 

 the hair being left on the legs for the protection it affords in the 

 hunting held. 



Complete clipping is justifiable and even necessary under 

 certain conditions. The horse naturally grows a heavy protec- 

 tive coat of hair in the fall which would be of the gi'catest service 

 to him under his original natural conditions. However, the 

 artificial conditions under which the average horse lives and 

 works render an excessively heavy coat objectionable. The horse 

 thus protected sweats unduly at either ordinary or fast work, is 

 generally enervated and his system is relaxed, thereby rendering 

 him especially liable to contract colds. Furthermore, it is difii- 

 cult and sometimes impossible to completely dry him after a 

 day's work. The removal of such a coat early enough in the fall 

 so that a light, protective coat may yet be grown before severe 

 weather is encountered, with care that • artificial protection is 

 always afforded, will render the horse more fit for work. Unless 

 a horse is afflicted with an exceptionally heavy coat, and cer- 

 tainly not unless he will be provided with ample clothing at all 

 times when not at work, he should not be clipped. 



Clipping is also resorted to in the spring after the shedding 

 process has begim, but before the new coat has started to grow 

 out, to obviate the disagreeable features of the shedding coat, 

 especially in the case of gray horses. Here, too, the substitu- 

 tion of blankets for the natural coat is required. 



Clothing consists of blankets of various weights, hoods, and 

 bandages. It serves to protect from cold, flies, and dii*t. Show 

 horses are heavily blanketed and covered for the purpose of 



