Clip]pmg Horses, 219 



be of especial interest to sportsmen, remain to 

 be noticed, viz. clipping horses, and the " Iron- 

 Dnke" bit. 



In the year 1814 he had an old chestnut 

 hnnter, whose coat was so long, that after a 

 day's hunting it was almost impossible to get 

 it dry till the next day. He therefore desired 

 his groom to cut off the long hair from the 

 underpart of the body ; but the effect was so 

 frightful, that, directly he saw it, he seized 

 another pair of scissors and assisted the groom 

 in clipping the horse all over ; not having the 

 use of a comb, of course it was notched dread- 

 fully. A few days after this he rode the 

 horse to meet the Hampshire hounds at Brook- 

 wood, causing great amusement, especially 

 when Foster, the huntsman, exclaimed, '^ Why, 

 Mr. Smith, the rats have been eating your 

 horse's hair off." He replied, ^^!N'ever mind; 

 he'll go the faster for it," which was verified, 

 for he certainly did; and Admiral Halkett 

 bought him for eighty-five guineas. This be- 



