COLLARS. 157 



necessary that they should fit the horse perfectly. 

 Nearly every horse requires his own collar. Collar- 

 making is a trade by itself. A good saddler will 

 very readily fit a horse for a collar, and as they are 

 made in many sizes, if he has not the proper size 

 in stock, he can always obtain it in the course of a 

 few hours. If a collar is too small or too large, a 

 horse is sure to suffer. Of the two evils, the latter 

 is the lesser. What are termed ' pijDed ' collars 

 should always have the preference. 



The hames are two curved pieces of metal which 

 fit round the collar, and to which the traces are 

 attached. They are fastened on to the collar by 

 means of a buckle and strap at the top, and by 

 either a buckle and strap or a metal chain at the 

 bottom. They should fit the fluting of the collar 

 exactly. They should never, for the sake of appear- 

 ance, be covered with leather. If the rest of the 

 harness is brass, they should of course be of brass 

 also, and vice verm. 



There are two rings on the hames for the reins 

 to run through. These rings should never be made 

 fixed or standing, but should always be folding. If 

 standing, a rein might get twisted round them, and 

 the most serious accident occur. Such lias many a 

 time been the case. 



The rings, or terrets, as they are called, on the 



