OCR Text |
Show Spring Clipping of Horses. The modern practice among the best posted and inost progressive horse owners and farmers is to clip all horses in the spring. It is done on the theory that in their natural state horses were not obliged to work, so could shed the winter coat in comfort over a period of several weeks. Since we oblige them to do hard work on warm spring days, the winter coat should be removed for the same reason that we lay off our heavy winter garments. Clipped horses dry off rapidly, hence they do not take cold as easily nor are they as prone to be affected with other ailments as undipped un-dipped animals whose longer hair holds the perspiration for hours. Because clipped horses dry off rapidly they rest better, get more good from their food and come out in the morning refreshed and fit for work. Since the advent of the ball bearing enclosed en-closed gear clipping machine, the work of taking off the winter coat is easy. With the machine a horse can be clipped all over in half an hour, whereas with the old two-hand two-hand clipper it required several hours to do it. Dairymen also now clip the cows all over two or three times a year. The flanks and udders are clipped every three or four weeks, so it is easy to clean the parts before be-fore milking. This means less opportunity for dirt and other impurities to get into the milk. |