Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-29
Clipping Horses

The practice OF Shearlng horses IS quite
popular in some of the European cities,
and is not entirely without followers in
this country, and even in Chicago. 1t is
done in the fall and winter, in order to
produce the same appearance in winter
as the short, natural summer coat gives
to the carriage and driving horse in the
warm season; and is claimed to exercise
favorable influence on the health Of the
animal, giving tone to the system, and
bracing up the constitution generally.
We are not sure that the operation in
connection with the treatment which
such horses generally receive can be de-
Tended on the score of either beauty or
utility. 1t is violent, unnatural opera
ton, to rob a horse in November of the
protection which nature provided for him
in the hair of his body against the rigor
of winter in this latitude. That it may
be done without serious detriment is
conceded, but that one driving horse in
ten is so carefully handled as to avoid
serious danger to his health by exposure
under such circumstances, is doubted
and, in a large majority of cases, it be-
comes simply a barbarOus outrage upon
the health and life of our most valuable
speechless servant. Spans of stylish
carriage horses may be seen frequently
before our fashionable dry goods stores,
waiting for their mistresses to finish shop
ping, shivering in the breeze-the mer-
curry down about Zero-the driver too ig-
norant or too lazy even to throw ban-
ket over their closely shorn forms. That
pneumonia or some other fearful acute
disease does and must follow every such
brutal exposure, is a reasonable certainty
So much for the utility. In regard to
beauty. Few persons who really love a
| fine horse, and truly admire his qualities,
fail to find pleasure in the soft, silky coat
of high bred, well-groomed horse in
winter 1t is a feature which every horse
man expects and values.
We have taken some pains to ascertain
who are the advocates of this practice,
and find they may be classed about as
follows: First, a few gentlemens who
| know very little of the danger which at
| tends it, and who are really pleased with
| the change it makes in the appearance ssOf
the animal. Second, few selfdubbed
veterinary surgeons, who, having been
| hangers on in foreign stables, have come
| to this "blarsted country full-fledged
'horse DOCTORS" anxious for practice
| But third and chiefly, lot Of lazy, pre-.
suming, ignorant grooms, who are not
| wiling to rub dry the natural winter coat
of horse after he comes in from exercise
| 1t takes fifteen minutes longer, and good
| deal more honest work, to groom the lat
ter well, than it does to dry out the form
er. No consideration of comfort or health
to the dumb brute, or of the interest of the
owner, enters into their calculations The
long hair once wet with perspiration
must be thoroughly rubbed, or it will tel
the tale of neglect until it is, but a few
passes of the cloth suffice to cover up al
such evidence on the other. The cloth
ing is thrown on almost Immediately or
the arrival of the latter at the stable, anG
the work is done.
1t is sincerely hoped that this practice
will not become fashionable" but
should it be otherwise, we may look for
frightful increase of lung diseases among
horses subjected to it-a harvest of EN-
ployment for the doctors, and harvest o.
death to their unprotesting Victims
Prairie Farmer.