Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1893 — To Clean and Preserve Harness. [ARTICLE]

To Clean and Preserve Harness.

But few people think of the economy of a little vigorous rubbing and oiling the harness. With modefate care a set can be made to last just twice as long as it ordinarily does.' Yet there is a greater object in view t an saving the wear and tear of the leather. It is a humane one. You can’t make me believe that a man loves his horse, no matter if he expresses his devotion in ,the strongest terms, if he is too mean or too lazy to oil up the harness and soften it. How hard the shoes 6n your feet get and painful and pinching when they become water-soaked and neglected for the want of some oil to soften them. It is exactly the same with the harness on a horse’s back. Did you ever notice that he never wants it on when it is in a stiff and unwieldy condition? A harness should be thoroughly washed at least once a week with pure castile soap and a sponge, and then oiled with neatsfoot oil in profuse quantities. Dubbin is also a good grease for the purpose, but neatsfoot oil is the best. After the application is made rub the leather dry, so as not to leave any grease spots on the surface, for if any are left the dirt collects and sticks fast. To complete the job the mountings should be rubbed up with some kind of polish. Putz pomade L* the best for the purpose. It comes in small boxes, costing about 5 or 10 cents each, and may be obtained from any dealer in turf goods. Harness should always be hung up by the hook in the saddle, the bridle suspended from a hook of its own and the lines tied nicely in the bit. Hang the hames and collar or breast-collar from a higher hook. When hung in this manner harness will never lop out of shape or get to looking awkward. Always be particular with youi reins and scrutinize them when cleaning for the purpose of detecting a flaw in the leather. The most distressing accidents have happened by tbe lines breaking when driving a frightened or uncontrollable horse, and a little previous attention will avoid the possibility of any such accident. Riding saddles should be put on a rack not less than three feet above the floor, to prevent the rats from gnawing the padding and the destructive vermin from settling there. Considerable care should also be exercised in keeping the back of the saddle perfectly free from dirt or any lumpy settlement. Nothing is more painful to a horse’s back, and skin disease often results. Buggy whips should be kept perpendicularly suspended from the cracker. This isthe only way to keep them straight Make a little slot in one of the beams above your head just large enough to slip the end of the whip in, and you have your whip slot. Keeping the whip hung this way also saves its lasting qualities. It is hardly necessary to say anything about how to keep robes,blankets, and rubbers clean a id dry. Everybody knows that a horse’s life is in jeopardy with wet covers as a man’s is with wet clothes. They should always be thoroughly aired and dried when used and kept in a dry place..—Farm and Home.