Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-09
Mistellanenms.
CLIPPING HORSES.

One of the most cruel and unnatural
practices of modern times, is the practice
that prevails to considerable extent, of
clipping horses. There is no good reason,
on natural Or human grounds, that can be
| offered in its defence. What does it do ?
First, 1t changes the entire appearance Of
the horse, gives him new and strange
color. and mars his beauty Second, #
impairs his constitution. We have been
| owners of horses, have loved and learned
them from our earliest years, have seen
| and known many Of them that have been
put through the process Of clipping. and
never known one whose constitution and
strength have not been more or less weak
ened and impaired by it, One noble horse
that we knew was SO injured by it, that he
was rendered entirely unfit for use the fol-
lowing season. Another, fine, proud,
elastic stepping animal, dropped so as to
cause remark at his altered appearance.
Persons unacquainted with the facts in
the case thought he was sick. Which was
true; he was, and from this cause. 1t is
reasonable to suppose that he would be-
Look at clipped horse, the hair is so short
you can see the veins and cords that lace
his skin. The entire network is exposed.
His nerves 0or horss is full of them, and
is one of the most sensitive of all animals)
are thrown open to the most irritating in
f1uences that can come upon them; and
when he has ceased moving, even in the
slightest breeze or chill air, he tremble.
and shakes as if ague was wrecking and
teariug him to pieces. Unfortunately, too.
this work is done in winter, in our coolest
weather. The excuses that are offered
for they cannot be called reasons-are
hat hy-. IL wi tho har
and the moisture stands upon his coat,
mating his hair, making him cold and un
comfortable. We have many answsrs
that we can give TO this excuse. First,
the custom of clipping is the result of fast
driving, or over-driving, and it is said it
is easier, less work to blanket and take
care of a clipped horse, than of one that
has his natural coat of hair. We have Of.
ten heard such drivers say, "All we have
to do is to put our horses in the barn,
throw couple of blankets over them and
leave them. They are asIdry as bone the
next morning" Yes the skin is dry and
hot, a feaverish heat, and the horse APP
proaches the condition of an hide-bound
animal. The entire surface of the skin is
more or less inflamed. An unclipped
horse, properly driven, never gets into
such a condition. To lather and fret
horse is unreasonable and wicked. He
may be driven fast as he can 90, for
given distance and then eased off, and
not be brought to foam. But if he is
brought in sweating, and his driver is q
good horseman, and his stall is not open
to draughts of air, he will put warm,
somewhat coarsely-woven wooden blanket
on him; and in an hour the moisture will
be on the outside of the blanket. If he
puts his hand under the blanket, on the
horses flank, and under his chest, the vital
parts, he will find him warm even if he is
not entirely dry. Let him now take Off
this wet blanket, and put hevaier, warm
blanket on. and leave him; he will soon
find him all right the next morning, or
whenever he wants to use him. If a man
is not willing to take the time and trouble
TO do this !; if, after hard drive. or pleas
ure drive, he wants to turn his horse out,
throw on couple of blankets, and leave
him, he is not willing to pay for his ride,
and is not worthy to either own or drive
horse. Second-A clipped horse is Ii
able to be fed and watered too soon, after
being heated or driven He dries soon,
and, because his skin is dry, the food and
and water are given. OF course, if time
and pains cannot be taken for the other
process, they cannot be allowed for this
A naturally coated horse cools off soon
enough to be fed and watered. 1t is said
by the patrons of this modern invention,
that better care and more pains are taken
with clipped horses. then with others.
Then why clip them?
What end is gained If they dry oil
sooner outside, they cool no sooner inside.
unless they are exposed to cold. and then
they chill The ears also must be attended
to. These must not be left cold and wet
They are the thermometers of his system.
1t is not an easy task to always hood "a
horse, particularly when he is on the
street, and in harness. AS to giving more
care to Il clipped horse, it is not done; we
see them every day, with nothing on them,
except the harness. They stand with their
heads down, their legs drawn under them,
their bodies bent like bow their tails
hugged down, and shivering with cold
1t is ptiful to see them.
Third.-Farmers and family horses that
are cared for in the old way are healthier
and more hardy than those which are
treated by this modern cruel process of
clipping Many things may be said in ex-
tenuation of the practice we have heard
them all. but we have never heard rea-
son for it. There is nothing in nature or
reason that warrants it.
Last-It is needless expense 1t cost.
ten. fifteen, twenty or thirty dollars to
have it done. 1t costs more for blankets
than the old way. If proper care is given.
the horse requires more time and attention
1t spoils his beauty, and, worse than all
makes him uncomfortable, impairs his
health and Injuries his constitution
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