ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM HORSE. 425 
cold moisture will bedew him; and his work will become to him 
enduring. Its action, therefore, turns out to be a tonic, and no 
tonic has proved more effectual in restituting the horse from a 
state of debility to one of strength. I will venture here to offer a 
few remarks on the “ rationale” of clipping. It is by some con¬ 
sidered an outrage on nature : so is domestication. The horse, as 
winter advances, is more abundantly supplied with hair for the 
purpose of keeping him warm. This is a wise provision for the 
animal living in a natural state; having to contend with a di¬ 
minished temperature, cold, storms, rain, and snow, with no other 
shelter than a quick-set hedge. He uses but little exertion, and 
mopes slowly about in search of food, and but seldom increases 
the temperature of his body by active exercise. Reverse all this. 
The domesticated horse is kept in a warm stable, well fed with 
food containing elements necessary for respiration and nutrition; 
he is clothed and bedded ; a long coat is not compatible with high 
feeding, warm clothing, and active work ; for it is in the mean 
the same thing as making a man perform active or laborious work 
wrapped round in a blanket. On the road side we see the stone- 
breaker, in the depth of winter, with the thermometer considerably 
below the freezing point, with his coat off, and thinly clad, whilst 
the passer-by can hardly keep himself warm in his great coat. In 
the one, active work increases the heat of the body: in the other, 
every care is used to prevent its escape. Thus is demonstrated, 
how it is a horse so soon gets into condition when deprived of his 
excess of coat (his winter clothing) by the operation of clipping. 
The horse, as I have before said, that is well fed and has full work 
needs no additional coat to maintain the heat of his body in winter: 
it is only the animal in its natural state that wants this. A clipped 
horse, returned home from work, is soon made dry, clean, and 
comfortable; the unclipped horse will require hours to be made 
any thing like comfortable ; and very frequently his sweat is still 
hanging on him in the morning, at the time he is taken out of the 
stable to perform his renewed daily labour. 
John Courtier, Esq., Moretonhampstead, Devon, has for several 
years past had his farm horses clipped, and he informs me the 
effect produced is very decided, and that two horses clipped will 
perform as much work as four unclipped, provided their coats be 
in that state or condition in which clipping is demanded. Some 
imagine the clipped horse must be more liable to cold. The opinion 
of those farmers who have for some time tried it is, that they are 
not so susceptible of cold or coughs as the horse with a long coat, 
who is in a continual state of sweat and moisture. Some horses 
do not require clipping, having naturally short coats; and such 
horses generally keep up their condition and strength. This still 
