76 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



cannot now remember the name of the patentee, 

 but the reader can, if he wishes, obtain them at 

 Messrs. Holtzappfel's. I think, if I remember 

 aright, that the price of the galvanized iron ones 

 is Is. each. A spring-hook of the same material 

 would cost perhaps a little less, but certainly would 

 wear only half the time of the others. 



Knee-caps are what may be called necessary 

 evils. They are necessary to prevent horses 

 banging their knees about when travelling by train, 

 etc. They are also commonly used for exercising 

 purposes. It is at such times, when they are 

 ridden by grooms, that the majority of accidents 

 occur. A careless groom — and such servants are, 

 generally speaking, bad horsemen — will sooner or 

 later bring down the best-actioned horse in the 

 world. For exercising purposes, therefore, they are 

 useful ; but I myself prefer to dispense with them 

 when I know my servants to be careful and trust- 

 worthy, inasmuch as, although it is true that they 

 may save a horse's knees from being blemished, if 

 that horse has the misfortune to fall, I consider 

 that they are in themselves frequently the cause of 

 their falling, especially if of a bad shape. 



It is well to here consider what the shape of a 

 kneecap ought to be. Very frequently they are 

 made with nothing further than a round leather 



