The greatest care must be exercised in keeping the collar where it bears against the horse in perfect order.
Harness should be oiled two or three times a year if necessary.
The best oil for this use is neat's-foot oil, the unctuous property of which is particularly suitable for preserving the suppleness of the leather; this oil contains no siccative part, and may be used unpurified. Four pints and a half will oil the harness of a team of three pairs. To keep it from becoming rancid, use 1 part kerosene to 4 parts neat's-foot.
Before using the oil every part of the leather must be perfectly cleaned and washed, without letting the water soak deeply into the leather; while still damp blacken with dye those places which have become red; when the leather begins to dry, oil it, spreading the oil on with a sponge or thick, soft brush. When neat's-foot oil cannot be had, pure fish-oil may be used, but it must be carefully ascertained that it does not contain any siccative matter, which would make it injurious.
Other oils may be usefully employed, as whale-oil, when they can be gotten pure; this is not easily done, it being hard to detect the frauds.
Vegetable oils are very hurtful.
As good oil cannot always be had, a mixture of three quarters of melted lard and one quarter of whale-oil may be used in emergencies; it should be spread over the leather with a piece of woollen cloth, and well rubbed in.
Blacking for harness and dressings are given under "Mountain Artillery," p. 61. The prepared harness-oil manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal is packed in tins 4½ × 4½ × 8½ inches, each containing 6 pounds of oil. Twenty-five tins are packed in a box.
Kerosene is good for cleaning rust from iron parts, and then use sperm-oil.
To paint metal parts, use asphaltum paint. Before applying care should be taken that every particle of rust is removed; then give two light coats, allowing plenty of time for the first coat to dry. Colgate's black harness soap and Frank Miller's harness soap No. 2½ are excellent for keeping harness clean and soft with little trouble.