A groom-coachman generally has some help. He has to ride exercise as well as drive, and can do a couple of horses. He is simply a groom who has to drive.

A second horseman holds a position about equal to that of a groom-coachman, and in a large stable would be under a head groom. In a stable of ten or twelve horses he might act as head groom; and in one of half that size, as working stud groom. In Leicestershire, a second horseman is generally supposed to do two horses and his own hunting things, which I think is more than he can properly attend to, if he has to go out oftener than three times a week with his master or mistress.

A working coachman would have to feed his animals, look after their shoeing, trimming, clipping, etc., clean the carriage, do one horse or two if there is not much driving, and exercise. The man under him would muck-out, clean harness, cut chaff, bruise oats, and do the larger part of the grooming. Supposing that there were three horses, which would be a full allowance for the two men, if the carriage went out often; the helper would have to do two horses. A working coachman occupies a somewhat better position than a groom-coachman; because he has not to do the rougher part of a groom's work, and is supposed to have a carriage groom or helper under him.

A head groom in a large hunting stable is like a head-lad in a racing stable; his business being to see that the orders of the stud-groom are carried out. He would probably have to feed the horses, ride exercise, strap one horse, and superintend the cleaning of saddlery. In a stable of, say, fifteen horses or more, I do not think that he ought to be asked to strap. If the master is his own stud groom, the head groom will usually occupy a more independent position than when he is under a stud groom.

A man who was engaged simply as a coachman ought not to be expected to strap; for the performance of that duty would practically make him a working coachman. He ought, however, to wash and clean his carriage, do his livery and boots, trim and clip, see to the shoeing, forage, bedding, clothing, harness, stable gear, etc., and superintend all the work done by the men under him, as well as drive. As a rule, when an owner advertises for a coachman with a man under him, he really means a working coachman; because he could not reasonably expect that the stable helper could do all the strapping.

A working stud groom could take charge of a stable of, say, not more than ten horses, one of which he might strap. In a stable of about five horses, the second horseman or coachman might take charge.

A head coachman would be required only in a large establishment, in which there would be also a second and even a third coachman. His duties, like those of a stud groom, would be limited to driving, superintendence and management. A second coachman would have to drive, do the livery and boots of the first coachman, do a carriage, feed and superintend work. The duties of a third coachman would be similar to those of a working coachman.

As a rule, a stud groom would be required only in a large stable, say, of twelve horses or more. He is not supposed to do any manual work, such as strapping (grooming), cleaning gear, or even feeding; his business being to make those under him do their work properly, and to attend to the welfare of his animals. He usually engages the other stable servants, buys the fodder, and has a good deal to say to the purchase of the horses.

In a large mixed stable, the head groom might have charge of the hunters; the coachman, of the harness horses; and the stud groom, of the entire establishment. A smart stud groom in a hunting stable would be expected to break and school, and if need be, to train one or more of his horses for a hunt steeplechase or point to point race.

In a private racing stable we have the trainer, head lad, riding lads, and may be one or more strappers. In a small stable devoted to chasing and timber topping, and owned by a man who would look after entries, etc., the duties of head lad and trainer might be combined. Usually a riding lad will be expected to do two horses; but if he has to ride more than once during the day, he cannot groom more than one horse properly. As a rule, each valuable racehorse in training would have the undivided services of a riding lad. In a large public racing stable there would be two or more head lads according to the number of horses trained. None of these men would be required to do groom's work of any kind, and one of them would probably be selected by the trainer to act for him when he was absent.

Wages, Board And Lodging

The pay of stable servants varies greatly according to locality and place; but out of London, it may be taken generally as follows : Ordinary grooms, strappers and stable helpers, from 18 shillings to a guinea a week; head grooms, second horsemen and working coachmen, 25 shillings; head lads, working stud grooms, and coachmen who would not have to strap, 30 shillings; stud grooms and head coachmen, from 35 shillings to 2 guineas; young riding lads, 7 shillings a week and keep; and full-grown lads, 18 shillings with lodging. Men drawing 25 shillings and upwards would probably get a cottage, fire and lighting. Some liberal employers give vegetables and milk. In London, an ordinary groom ought to get 25 shillings a week, supposing that he has to find his own lodging.

As a rule, a groom can get board and lodging in a private family of his own position in life, for about 12s. 6d. a week in the country; and in London, for about 16 shillings. Lodging in the country would cost about 2S. or 2s. 6d. a week, and 4 or 5 shillings a week in London. I have found that when seven or eight riding lads club together, they can feed well on 6s. 6d. a week, supposing that they get free fire and room, and that one of them does the cooking.

Allowances And Tips

When a riding lad is sent on a journey with or without his horse, he is usually allowed six shillings a day for his extra expenses. Considering the rapid manner in which the incidental expenses of travelling mount up; this concession might be given to ordinary grooms under similar circumstances.

In some places, chiefly those in the carriage line, the master gives an allowance for extras and tools, which would include brushes, combs, wash-leathers, rubbers, dusters, sponges, soap, silver-sand, oil for dressing leather, harness composition, scrapers, curry-combs, brooms, hoof-pickers, plate powder, boot-top powder, breeches paste and burnishers. Five shillings a week would be a fair allowance to a coachman for three horses, and a shilling a week for each saddle horse.

A shilling may be regarded as the recognised tip to grooms for minor services, such as holding a horse, putting up a horse while the owner is calling at the master's house, going a message, etc. Half-a-crown may be looked upon as a fair tip to the coachman who drives one away, after one has been on a short visit at a friend's place. This might be increased according to additional services rendered. A tip to the stud groom for a mount out hunting in the Shires, might reasonably vary from ten shillings to a sovereign, with, say, half-a-crown to the man who had to strap the horse. It might here be objected that the strapper and not the stud groom should receive the larger tip, as he had to do all the work. We must, however, remember that in establishments in which the master is not his own stud groom, the quality of the mount depends to a large extent on the good-will of the stable factotum, whom, on that account, it is advisable to conciliate. Without wishing in any way to discuss the morality of tipping, I must say that the entertainment of visitors and friends puts a good deal of extra work on servants. The mention of hunting may excuse me for going beyond the province of the stable by saying that a fair tip at the end of the season in the Shires to a huntsman would be from three pounds to five pounds, a sovereign to each whipper-in, and a crown to each earth-stopper.

Respect Due From Stable Servants To Their Masters

Under this heading I shall include the mistress when speaking of the master, so as to avoid needless repetition. On meeting his master in the yard or stable for the first time in the day, or on passing him or speaking to him outside, the servant is supposed to touch his cap or hat, which he does with the forefinger of the right hand. On receiving an order from his master, he should touch his cap and say : "Yes, Sir," "Very good, Sir," or words to that effect, so as to show that he understands what is required of him. If he fails to grasp his master's meaning, he should ask for an explanation in a brief and respectful manner. Some ignorant servants, whose presence would not be tolerated for a moment in a first class establishment, have the provoking habit of receiving orders in silence, in which case the master is left in a state of uncertainty as to his directions being comprehended or not.