Middletown transcript., 1905-04-29
THE FARM HORSES in SPRING
Great Advantage to the Animals in Hav-
ing Their Winter Coats Clipped off
FRANK D. WARD, BATAVIA, N. Y

FRANK d. WARD, RATAVIA, N. Y.
zone of the greatest Improvements seen
in the management or care of horses on
the farm is the practice, which is SO
greatly on the increase, of clipping off the
heavy coat of hair in the spring. This
improvement has only been made possible
for the average farmer within the last
score OF years through improvement in
machinery made for that purpose. fused
to clip by hand, but it was tedions job
to clip even one horse, and to clip all the
farm horses-well, it didn't get done; but
the flexible shaft clipping machines now
on the market are so simple in construc-
ton, easy to operate and perfect in their
working that there seems to be no reason
able excuse for neglecting this very neces
sary item in the care of the farm horses
during the heavy work that is required
Of them at this time of the year. Neglect
of this care must always mean a loss to
owner, both in extra expense OF keep
and also in the amount of work the teams
are able to accomplish and the ease with
which they may do it.
The exceptions are SO few that may
safely say that every farm horse should
be thoroughly clipped as early as the
weather gets so mild that the winter coat
OF hair is no longer needed as protection.
have never seen many farm horses that
| thought would be benefited by being
clipped in the fall, as their coat was given
them as natures protection against the
cold of winter, and, as a rule, when it is
taken off it is either for the purpose of
gratifying the foolish vanity of a foolish
driver or else to relieve him from the
labor necessary to keep the horse proper
~ groomed. / never saw many farm
horses that would not be benefited by
being clipped early in the spring, as they
no longer need the protection of the
heavy coat of hair grown for winters COM
fort, and it is really burden to them in
the warm days of spring. So just at the
time when we begin to feel the need OF
of lighter clothing, the horses should be
relieved of the burden of their winter
clothing. / never fully realized the bene-
fit of the spring clipping of horses until I
bought sheep shearing machine, with
which also came set of clippers for use
on horses. So, after the sheep were all
shorn, we went to the horse barn and
clipped every horse on the farm, and from
that timeI have been an ardent advocate
Of the practice of clipping every horse
from his hoofs to the tips of his ears, the
only long hair being left being that of
their tails. The name is nuisance on
farm horse and should be cut close, thus
keeping the horse cooler about the neck
and collar, and SO relieving him from the
danger of scalded shoulders.
"The advantages of clipping the farm
horses are found not only in the greater
comfort and>ease with which they will do
their work, but also in the fact that when
the days work is over they will dry off
very quickly, thus being in condition in
which the dust and filth from the days
work may be brushed off and the horse
made perfectly clean for good nights
rest.
mot only is there greater comfort and
better physical condition in the care OF
the clipped horse, but there is less danger
from scalded shoulders and from harness
gall; and the clipped horse, always being
dry at night. is in less danger from colds,
will work more easily and keep in good
condition on enough less feed to pay the
cost OF a machine and the trouble of clip
ping, which is very simple operation,
and may be done by any farmer of ordi-
nary skill, and good machine should
last on an ordinary farm score of years.
Really, the only difficult part of the
whole work is in making up ones mind
to do it.-Iribtoae Farmer.