The Horse's Clothes 283 



evaporation allay irritation. There should never be 

 any mark of the halter nose-band on the face, nor 

 any chafing of the jaws by its too narrow restric- 

 tion, yet many a horse displays these evidences of 

 neglect. The halter should fit in every part as care- 

 fully as the bridle, and should be kept always well 

 oiled (if of leather), and as soft and pliable as a 

 glove. Web is as good and durable as leather, but 

 it must fit as smoothly and be of good strength. 



Blankets are almost invariably cut too small in 

 the neck, put on too far back, and girthed too tightly. 

 Watch a horse feeding from the floor, and see how 

 the blanket draws across the windpipe. Notice how 

 the edges of the shoulder-blades show, through 

 abrasions of the hair, that the covering is drawn 

 back too far before the surcingle is imposed. See 

 how many people throw the article on to a horse, 

 and, let it fall as it will, draw it forward, against 

 the " lay " of the hair, into place before fastening 

 it. To put a blanket on properly, throw it high up 

 and \\e\] forw^ard, so that it falls upon the neck. 

 Then buckle the breast-straps, and carefully draw 



