OPERATIONS OF DECORATION. 117 



are liable after work, but it is improper where there is any 

 swelling hot and painful. The hind always requires more 

 than the fore legs. The friction seldom requires to be car- 

 ried higher than the hock or knee-joints. 



Singeing. — Stablemen have long been in the habit of 

 singeing away the long loose hair which grows about the 

 jaws, throat, neck, belly, and quarters of horses that have 

 been much exposed to cold ; a flame is applied and the hair 

 is allowed to blaze for a moment, when it is extinguished by 

 drawing the hand or a damp cloth over it. Sometimes the 

 hair is moistened a little with spirits of whie, in order that it 

 may burn more readily ; the spirit is not rubbed in, it is enough 

 to moisten the points of the hair ; when too wet it lies too 

 smoothly for singeing. Sometimes the horse is singed all 

 over ; the operation is common, I believe, in England and 

 Ireland. There are instruments for the purpose. An article 

 composed of two iron rollers, the one being hot and the other 

 cold, was at one time in use. But singeing is now done by 

 a kind of knife, having a moveable back, which is surrounded 

 with tow moistened with spirit of wine and set on fire. As 

 the knife is drawn over the hairs, their points start and are 

 taken off by the flame. When properly performed, this op- 

 eration does not disfigure the horse so much as might be ex- 

 pected. He does not look so ill as a clipped horse, and his 

 hair is never so generally shortened. 



Shaving. — I have heard of horses being shaved. It has 

 been done to make the horse wear a summer coat in winter. 

 The operation is rare and difficult ; it is performed after the 

 horse has moulted, and before the winter coat is full grown. 

 1 am unable to say whether it be right or wrong, for I have 

 never seen it performed, and am ignorant of its results. 



Clipping. — This operation has been truly termed, " a bad 

 substitute lor good grooming." It is done only on the better 

 kinds of horses, especially upon hunters, and consists in 

 shortening the hair all over the body, by means of the scis- 

 sors and comb. The object is to make the winter coat as 

 short as that of summer. The time usually chosen is the be- 

 ginning of winter, just after the horse has moulted, and before 

 his coat has attained its full length ; but it may be done at 

 any later period, greater care being taken to prevent the 

 horse catching cold. Of the mode in which the operation is 

 performed, I need say nothing. There are persons in all 

 considerable towns who make it their business. Private 

 grooms sometimes attempt it ; but they seldom do it neatly. 



