Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-13
Pro and Con of Clipping Horses.

Much may be said on both sides Of the
question as to the advisability of clipping
horses in winter. Its advantages may be
shortly stated in tho diminished liability to
perspiration, the rapid drying after a sweat,
the better tone thus given to the muscular
system, the power of more continuous exer.
ton without exhaustion, the improvement Of
digestion and assimilation, so that the horse
eau be kept on less, and not the least inn
portant in the eyes Of many, he facility
with which he may be cleaned of alter
work. The disadvantages are mainly these:
The rougher appearance Of the coat and the
absence Of that sickness and beauty that
belongs TO the natural covering, the lateness
Of shedding the winter coat, which will
cling to the skin for mouth after il would
otherwise have been dropped, aud the danger
Of chills if the animal is left exposed to u
cold blast after sweating. or IL he is left in
cold open stable. Clipping becomes a
necessary evil, to save, from a worse, the
horse that grows such long and thick win
ter coat, that he sweats on the slightest ex.
ertion, and while failing to dry when re-
turned to the stable remains drenched with
perspiration day and night. Such a horse
is not only repulsive to handle and use, but
his whole system gets relaxed, his muscles
become sost and Aabby, and incapable of en-.
durance, his spirits sink, the constant drain
upon his system makes him diff cult to keep
10 flesh, and he becomes much more liable
to chronic affections of the air passages with
persistent cough, to rheumatism, anil to va
rioas other affections. To clip such beast
is at once merciful and profitable.
Next comes whole class Of animals from
which severe and continuous eSertion is de-
manded but supplied with warm, coInIorta-
BILE stables, and sufficiently careful atten-
tion aud abundant clothing. These can, as a
rule, be kept more cheaply, in better condi-
ton, aud do better work, il relieved Of a
moderate Water coat, which, it left, would
cause free pcrspiration Whenever they are
subject to exacting labors. Tho same light
ness OF coat can often be attained with a far
more beautiful aud glossy surface, by habit
ually blanketing warmly in autumn and ear.
ly winter, at the time the hair naturally
grows. But, however the condition is brought
about, certain amount of care is wanted,
such as constant blanketing when stopped
out OF DOORS the same when the beast re-
turns warm, and even when standing 10 the
stable, and above all, the avoidance of open
stables traversed by currents of cold air.
Lastly, for animals with naturally short coats
for such as sweat with difficulty, and for
those that are rarely or never subjected to
severe exertion aud perspiration, the coat
had been left 10 its natural condition, as q
kindly provision of nature against the rigor
Of the climate, and admirably adapted to
protection and comfort. In view oil the sub.
ject, clipping is to be avoided unless demand.
ed by the artificial condition to which the
animal is to be kept, and especially by the
excessive labor demanded OF him. When
resorted TO it must never be forgotten that it
entails new dangers from exposure, against
which we must carefully provide if we would
secure its benefits without its disadvantages.
-Ne10 York Tribune.