CLIPPING. 2 t 7 



floor of the stable, and not into the manger or 

 against the stall partitions. 



In the cavalry the men are taught to tap out 

 their curry-combs at the edge of the stall-posts. 

 Their work is then apparent, as, if they have been 

 doing their duty, there will be a heap of scurf to 

 prove it. 



Since it is necessary to remove a horse's coat 

 during the winter, it is as well to consider how this 

 is to be best done. 



In the old days horses were clijjped with a pair 

 of scissors, or else shaved. Both of these operations 

 were necessarily somewhat laborious, and the latter 

 dangerous as well. Of late }^ears the clipping 

 machine has rendered these old-fashioned practices 

 obsolete. The machine answers the purpose for 

 which it is intended admirably, and the man who 

 can cut a horse with it must indeed be a clumsy 

 hand. Of course, as may be supposed, it leaves the 

 marks of its teeth, however skilfully it may be used, 

 and, moreover, does not take off the hair quite as 

 closely as is desirable, so it is necessary when a 

 horse has been clipped to level the coat still further 

 by singeing it. 



No horse's coat should ever be clipped until it is 

 set. This is known by the appearance of long hairs, 

 known as 'cat-hairs,' and when these show the coat 



