The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-07
Clipping Horses,


The following correspondence in relation to
the propriety of clipping horses in cold weather
will be found of some interest to our readers.
The gentleman who called our attention to the
correspondence, is himself the owner of quite a
number of horses, and favors the practice. He
is in no way interested in any clipping estab-
lishment, and relates his own views and expe-
rience. He says:
Let person go out to shovel snow or do any
work that requires great deal of exercise,
with his thick overcoat on, and he will get ire
mendously heated up and sweat profusely,
which weakens his system and puts him in
shape to take cold very easily; bat let him go to
work in his shirt sleevs and the exercise will
keep him warm; he will not get heated up so
much; and after his work is done he is all right
The same rule will apply to the horse with
benefit to him. Clip his thick winter coat off
and take him out to drive and when YOU get
through put it on in the shape of a warm blan-
ket have never seen a horse get sick in con-
sequence of being clipped The first one ever
had clipped was sick at the time, and in less
than week he was as well as ever and did
not give him particle of medicine A horse
that does slow work and is not driven fast
enough to get heated UP and sweat does not re-
quire clipping and never needs blanket
have horses at work for me that have not had a
blanket on for years, for they never sweat and
consequently do not need one.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE !
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, :
NEW YORK, Nov. o. 1871.
DR.: James s. Cattanach, Veterinary Surgeon,
New York: a
DEAR SR:-WiI you please favor this socie-
ty with your opinion, as veterinary surgeon,
whether or not you agree with Youatt and
Mayhem in regard to the cruel practice of clip
ping and sngeing horses in cold weather. 1t is
my observation goes, is very disastrous to the
animals subject to it. Very respectfully
yours, HENRY BERGH.
BROADWAY, CORNER FoRTY-sIXTH ST,
New YORK, Nov. "a, 1871.
HENRI Bergh:-DEAR SRI am in receipt of
your letter of the 22d inst, asking my opinion
in regard to clipping and smuggling horses in cold
weather. In reply beg to state that 1 con-
slider clipping highly beneficial to horses that
are called ON to perform fast work, such as road
horses, etc.
From my observation they Immediately COM
mence to improve in condition, feed better; the
lean horse will get fat; they will not perspire
so much when worked hard; can perform more
| work and with greater ease than before being
clipped.
Clipping has such happy result that con-
slider it tonic Superior to any that can be found
in the pharmacopGia; it strengthens the abb
sorbents of the skin; allows the animal to per-
| spire with greater freedom is not SO liable to
take cold after hard drive; he returns to his
stable with beautiful glow all over his whole
frame; is easily rubbed dry; and will not break
| out IN sweat Wnen DlanKeCeQ ana placed In
his stall.
The horse with long coat of hair that is
driven at a rapid gait on the road will return to
his stable in profuse state of perspiration; the
groom endeavors to rub him dry; he may keep
rubbing him with all his might for an hour and
will not succeed; he blankets him up, places
him in his stall and returns in the morning to
find that the animal is in worse state of per-
spiration than he was the night previous; hence
the loss of many valuable horses
The trotting horse that is clipped is, as gen.
eral rule, well taken care of; his owner provides
him with warm blankets, and when he stops Oh
the road he is wrapped up in them and the
greatest of care is taken to prevent him from
taking cold. l do not advocate the clipping Of
horses that have only to perform slow work
nor the "hack'' that may have to stand fol
hours at a time on the public squares, the own
er waiting for job; but for the gentleman
road horse consider it an act of humanity t.
relieve him of his heavy coat. Clipping horses
has been practiced for number Of years, ant
has now become popular; it has had fair trial
and if gentlemen did not find it beneficial the,
would not run the risk of adopting it on horse
that cost them many thousands of dollars.
have the greatest respect for your invalua
BILE society, and shall at all times spare no pain
to assist you in your good work
Yours respectfully,
JAMES S. CATTANAcH, Veterinary Surgeon.