102 ESSAYS ON HORSE SUBJECTS 



fairly warmly blanketed to check the growth 

 of the coat. It is usually necessary to 

 begin this the end of August. Discretion, of 

 course, must be used, so that the covering is not 

 heavy enough to cause sweating. Some horses 

 have naturally fine short coats, and with ordinary 

 care will not need clipping, even in winter, which 

 is so much the better; but the majority of them 

 need it, and are much benefited by it. 



Under certain circumstances, as in the case 

 of horses having been turned out and brought up 

 for work, say in April, it will be beneficial to 

 clip them, for otherwise they look badly and will 

 not thrive well on account of sweating too freely 

 when worked. 



Clipping at this season of the year retards the 

 shedding of the roots of the coat, and it is better 

 to let it shed naturally in case the conditions are 

 such as will admit of it, without injury to the 

 horse's condition and working ability. 



In a horse that is not too ambitious and has 

 not to be exerted violently, it is better to wait for 

 him to shed naturally, which he will do rapidly 

 at this season of the year if he gets regular work, 

 good grooming and is well fed. Horses that 

 are fed warmed boiled feed for the evening meal 

 will shed much earlier in the season than those 

 kept on dry feed. Some horses, however, will 

 not stand this without becoming too relaxed in 



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