BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 125 



would therefore do well, if he wishes his horses to 

 do so, to turn in his mind the purpose he wants them 

 for. If as hunters with fox or stag hounds, as steeple- 

 chase horses, or even race horses, if from some ex- 

 traordinary circumstances such horses are long in 

 their coats, clip or singe them (which is often pre- 

 ferable) by all means. If as hacks for fast work, 

 such as those ridden by veterinary surgeons, jockeys, 

 dealers, clip them also. Horses used for the park, or 

 a ride about London, may be clipped — it makes them 

 look neat and fine in their coats ; the same by carriage 

 horses used only for a drive, and then '* home;" I do 

 not hesitate in saying that nearly every stage coach 

 horse should undergo this process ; and in fact, I am 

 quite clear that their thriving, more by far than pays 

 the trifling expense of it. Post horses stand in the 

 same category. But if the use to which horses are 

 put requires their standing about and waiting, ex- 

 posed to cold rain and wind, clipping is death to them; 

 it is then cruelty — for they are comfortless, indeed 

 miserable, till their coat grows again, or the warm 

 weather comes. Horses will not thrive if they are 



