The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-31
Clipping Horses.


The practice of shearng 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, natu-
raj 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 gen
orally
We are not sure that the operation in con
nectiOn with the treatment which such horses
generally receive can be defended on the
score of either beauty or utility. 1t is VIC
lent, unnatural operation, to rob 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 detri-
ment is conceded, but that one driving horse
in ten is so carefully handled as to avoid Sc
rlous danger to his health by exposure under
such circumstances is doubted; and, in Il
large majority of cases, it becomes simply a
barbarOus outrage upon the health ana NE
of our most valuable speeches. servant.
Spans of stylish carriage horses may be seen
frequently before our fashionable dry goods
stores. waiting for their mistresses to finish
sh0un,ng, shiE2ring u the hreezc--thc mer-
curry down about zero-the driver too ignor-
ant or too lazy even to throw blanket over
their closely shorn forms. That pneumonia
or some other fearful acute diseases does and
must follow every such brutal exposure, is a
reasonable certainty. So much Tor the utlli-
ty. 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 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,
few gentlemen who know very title Of the
danger which attends it, and who are really
pleased with the change it makes in the ap-
pearance OF the animal Second, Il few self
dubbed veterinary surgeons, who, having
been hangers on in foreign stables, have come
to this "blarsted country" full-hedged "horse
DOCTORS" anxious for practice. But third and
chiefly, lot Of lazy, presuming, Ignorant
grooms, who are not willing to rub dry Tie
natural winter coat of Il horse after he comes
in from exercise. 1t takes fifteen minutes
longer, and a good deal more honest work, to
groom the latter well, than it does TO dry out
the former. No consideration of comfort or
health to the dumb brute, or Of the interest of
the owner, enters INTO their calculations The
lang hair once wet with perspraton, must
be thoroughly rubbed, or it will tell the tale
Of neglect until it is, but a few passes Of the
cloth suffice 10 cover up all such evidences on
the other. The clothing is thrown on almost
Immediately on the arrival Of the latter at
the stable and the work is done.
1t is sincerely hoped that this practice will
not become "iashionable;" but should it be
otherwise, we may look for frightful in
crease of lung diseases among horses subject
ed to it-a harvest of employment for the
doctors, and harvest of death to their unpro
! testing yictims-praiIIe Farmer