The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-07
HORSE CLIPPING.
Reprobated by Former Onicer or Ar'n-
lery Defended by q Civilian.

Reprobated by n Former Ofrlcer OF Artil-
lery Defended by Civilian.
To THk EDITOR or THE SUS-Sr: The horse.
with us. Il not In his natural state nor Is
the climate best adapted 10 his requirements.
The careful study OF his eye alone VIII convince
the Intelligent student that the sandy deserts oil
Arabia were the natural haunts OF the Morse TOT
a special gland or n tear duct. which suHuScs inc
eyebal for the elimination OF particles OF sahu rom
that delicate organ was provided by NATURE INC
eve Of the horse shows plainly that the animal Is
semi nocturnal In Its habits. Even the stabbed
horse will craze very early in the rning or late
at night when Temporarily turned out to pasture
When the cows are lying down coneh'edly enc"
ing their cuds horses will gr0ze In the darkness.
Considered from n physiological point or view
clipping HORSES is all wrong. That grooms and
siablcmen recommend and uphold the practice
Is not worthy OF serious consideration for IL Is
much easier TO wipe OF a clipped horse and bankc,
him than II is 10 rub dry animal wet with perspl
ration wearing his natural coat AZ the season OF
the year when man puts on his heavy undergar'
meuis and winter ovcrcoai the horse is deprived OF
his coat. He has not even substitute for shirt
sleeves" and must depend entirely upon the tender
mrrcles OF his attendant.
That horses perspire TOO freely in the stable
when undeprived OF their coats is an argument
against rather than for clipping since nature.
ever watchiul. takes this method OF protesting
against the hot. heavy and impure air OF many
stables. The animal heat Is oiienllmrS retained
rather than expelled by Precipitation. and thr moist
urr OF the skin, which prevents cuucular evnpora
ton prevents fever. Many believe that clipped
horses are much more susceptible TO disease than
Others. Checked Precipitation frequently results
In acute organic disorder. resulting In weakness.
disease and death
The skin OF the clipped horse is rarely moist
II has a dry. harsh, unhealthy appearance and re
uurcs more rubbing 20 cleanse than does the uatu-
raj coat. This, however, It rarely receives,
clipped horse. indlfIorenty croomed. appears less
neglected than the animal with natural coat upon
which has been bestowed the same amount OF labor.
where the coat has been removed superficial per
SEPARATION Is accompanied by constant evaporation.
The natural covering prevents rapid evaporation
and wards on chill. Precipitation implies activity
OF he skin and IL Is well known fact that the sNln
ana the lungs act con Jointly. In tho clipped horse
the eXhnAuons Of the skin eyaporate as rapidly
as they are emitted As insenslble Precipitation
ind,sputably exists the clipped horse is constantly
In danger.
The growth ot.he new coat as summer approaches
leaves the horse IN dcbliated condition. The
lack OF accustomed spirit and vigor Is explained by
the ignorant by the fact tina; he Is shedding but
who ever heard OF horse in need Of such apology
that hid never been clipped The longer the hair
the more need Of protection OF The parts covered,
thus the lower organized members arc covered by
nature with longer and coarScr halr. noicca bly
about the fetlocks.
Where constant care Is given "a horses kept Tor
pleasure the conditions are different. and thc fet-
locks may be trimmed TO great apparent ndvAn-
tagr II constantly hooded and blanketcd the
clipped horse may not suffer materially from CLIP
ping. but that ans horse. under any circumstances.
has ever been benefited by the process IS denied
upon physiological principles
The promscuous clipping OF horses cannot he
too severely condemned. Its cruel In the extreme.
Grooms stabicmen and coachmen arc not, as
rule. tho most humane OF mankind. \ large pro
portion OF all the horses In use In America cspc-
cally In cities. are clipped In winter The fashion.
IKE that OF docking, Is carried 10 ridiculous eN-
trcmcs The butchers and the Crocer's horses are
now clipped. as well as coach horses, trotterS and
horses used for driving and riding for pleasure.
aud It is but reasonable suppose that they do not
receive the rare. The blanket. usually in
suricrnt, Is not thrown over the tradesmAn's
horse when he stops for order or delivers pack
age. because he docs not expect 10 be gone min
ute" Sometimes he stops TO talk to Bridget many
minutes and the shlverns horsr Is forgotten.
Extra whlplash, TO warm him up. Is usually the
dose administered.
Lead clipped horse forth an hour after he has
heen blankrted after brisk ride or drive and see
him SILVER and tremble. Marx how harsh and
rusty is his skin. observe the beautiful gloss and
sheen ~ the well rroomed, satin coated horse with
Its changing dapplcs and varying color as tho
seasons 20 round ard then say. II you can. that
clipping improves his appearance.
VIII this ten Thousand similar arguments
make the slightest difference No fashion Is every.
thing In docking ana clipping the whims Of our Eng
sh cousins are Initiated and It Is useless TO cry out
against them. The fashion cannot be carried 10
any more ridiculous extreme. and In this assurance
true lovers OF the horse may md some consolation
FLUSHING, Jan. J. JAMES WILLIS DIXON
To THE EDtTon or THE SuS SIR. One OF your
correspondents questions the audacliy OF man In
dipping horses. and wonders why he thus nlcs n
the face OF nature
The theory OF clipping horses Is this When
nature provided them with an eEtrn thick coat for
winter Il evidently had never occurred 10 tho good
old lady that the horse might need to take on
his ovetonat when hr put to work. Now WHEN
he Is put to fas; work or the ordinary gait OF pleas
ure or delivery wagons In this condition he Ia sure
10 sweat so profusely that nrsl he weAkens himself
by 50 much sweating. and, sccondly.i It being nett
to impossible to rub him dry before he gets into
chill he IA subjected TO pneumonia and kindred DIS
eAsrs from sudden conyestions. while n he Is hAnk
eted too heavily TO prevent taking cold he continues
sweating 10 the point OF weakness
Now the blcssrdness OF clipping is that u enables
thr morse 20 take On his oYefeoat WHEN hc gers 10
work FOR after clipping second blanket s,put on
10 take the place OF the thlck reit or natural over
coAu and IN this condition he rarely persp ires at
ALL or II he docs he easily dries under his blankets
and continues In warm, healthy glow after his
work Experiment has shown that clipped horsrs
do not need 10 be fed heavily a. their unclipped
brethren, and are ireer fromscratchcs ana other
skin diseases
or course clipping IS not recommended for heavy
draught horses, which arc seldom driven on walk
or worked 10 The point Of Precipitation. Nature
provision Is all Right for them. HoRsE LovRR.
NEW YORK, Jan. J.